Lakers may have found an All-Star solution to an Anthony Davis requisition

Anthony Davis has made it abundantly clear to the Los Angeles Lakers that he would like to spend less time at center. It's perhaps the worst-kept secret in Los Angeles, as Davis requested to play more power forward—and it's been nearly a year since he communicated that to the front office.

As the Lakers search for ways to honor that request, a familiar franchise may have the All-Star answer that they're looking for.

Davis has undoubedly performed well at center, but quality of play isn't the issue at the moment. The 31-year-old would seemingly like to play a less physically demanding role during the regular season, thus preserving his energy for the more grueling nature of the postseason.

A potential resolution was provided in an article published by Zach Harper and Shams Charania of The Athletic: Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen.

Charania and Harper listed Allen as a player who could be traded this summer—and the Lakers were provided as a potential destination. That isn't necessarily a rumor, but Charania is regarded as one of the top reporters in the NBA as far as breaking news is concerned.

As such, the fact that Allen is listed as a player who could be traded implies some level of exploration of a potential trade on the Cavaliers' behalf.

Jarrett Allen to the Lakers would address a massive flaw

Allen would be a tremendous fit in Los Angeles as an All-Star center with value on both ends of the floor. This past season, he averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.2 offensive boards, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 63.4 percent from the field and 74.2 percent at the free throw line.

Allen ranked 11th in the NBA in points in the paint, finished in the top 20 in offensive rebound percentage among players who appeared in at least 60 games, and cracked the top 25 in second-chance points.

For the Lakers, everything Allen does well fits into their areas of need. That begins on the glass, as Los Angeles ranked dead last in both offensive rebounds and second-chance points as a team despite Davis ranking No. 1 in the NBA individually in the latter statistic.

By adding Allen to the mix, the Lakers would have a two-headed monster that could dominate the offensive glass and transform the identity of the team.

Allen's ability to score consistently in the paint would also take pressure off of LeBron James. James continues to rank among the league leaders in points in the paint, but head coach JJ Redick has stated that he would like to see the four-time MVP shoot more jumpers in 2024-25.

Adding a player who can get into the paint, work without the ball to create openings under the basket, and dominate the offensive glass would make that an easier transition for the team at large.

Jarrett Allen can help anchor the defense

The Cavaliers finished the 2023-24 regular season ranked No. 7 in the NBA in defensive rating. Two massive contributing factors to that success were Cleveland checking in at No. 4 in points allowed in the paint and No. 6 in opponent second-chance points.

Evan Mobley is generally regarded as the best defender on the Cavaliers, but don't think for a second that Allen was just along for the ride. He's one of the top defensive centers in the NBA.

Standing at 6'9" and 243 pounds with an absurd 7'5.25" wingspan, Allen can impact an offensive gameplan by simply putting his arms up. He's never been the most prolific shot-blocker, but he knows where to be and he plays with intensity.

In Los Angeles, Allen simply being on the court would make the game easier for Davis, who was the first and last line of defense for the Lakers in 2023-24.

Allen deters opponents from attacking the rim and meets them with fearlessness when they do. In 2023-24, opponents shot 7.5 percent worse than the league average from within six feet and 5.6 below the league average from less than 10 feet when Allen contested their shots.

With Allen and Davis anchoring the defense, the Lakers could instantly improve from ranking 17th in defensive rating and 21st in opponent points in the paint.

What might a Cavaliers and Lakers trade look like?

The question, of course, is how the Lakers could execute a trade for an All-Star center in their prime. That begins with the context, as the Cavaliers could be looking to move on from Allen as they potentially prioritize fellow big man Evan Mobley.

There are conflicting reports on the matter, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN relayed that Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson doesn't want Allen to be traded, but it's still a deal worth exploring.

Los Angeles could intrigue Cleveland by building the package around wing Rui Hachimura. The Cavaliers are weakest at small forward, and adding a player who has shown two-way ability, as well as a strong outside shot, could at least get Koby Altman on the phone.

Allen's $20,000,000 salary would require Los Angeles to part with more talent, making Jalen Hood-Schifino a likely inclusion in a potential deal.

From there, Pelinka would need to provide enough draft capital to convince the Cavaliers that this trade makes sense for them. He might also need to package another quality player, thus resulting in Cleveland sending back a potentially undesired salary.

That's the cost of doing business in the NBA, however, and for the Lakers, the reward far outweighs the risk if it means appeasing Davis and landing an All-Star in their prime.