Jarrett Allen doesn’t raise the Pelicans’ ceiling enough <\/p>\n
Trading for Allen would give New Orleans a center upgrade for sure, but in the long term it may set them back because of his contract and the likely asking price. We\u2019ve seen for several years now that the Evan Mobley and Allen frontcourt has had plenty of chances, and while I don’t think the Cavs are desperate to change things, they\u2019re probably open to it. But with players like James Harden and a freshly extended Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland isn\u2019t planning on stepping away from trying to be contenders, so young assets and picks wouldn\u2019t interest them in an Allen deal.<\/p>\n
This has led many to mention Murphy III’s name in an Allen swap because they share similar contracts, and the Cavs have long been searching for a wing with his traits and style of play. His size, three-point shooting, and raw athleticism would complement Cleveland’s core incredibly well, but the value he and Allen carry is completely different.<\/p>\n
Allen is 28 years old with three years left on his contract worth over $90 million, while Murphy III is 26 and just hitting his prime, with three years left on a deal worth less than $90 million. From a straight money standpoint, a swap would almost be guaranteed to age poorly for New Orleans.<\/p>\n
Allen doesn\u2019t move the needle enough for New Orleans to justify a trade. It would be one thing to trade Murphy III to a team for future picks, young talent, and still add a center upgrade. But the idea of an Allen-for-Murphy III swap is something Cavs fans keep for NBA 2K, because it\u2019s never going to happen.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just me saying this either. We\u2019ve heard from several reports that the Pelicans are firm on Murphy III\u2019s high price tag and aren\u2019t going to trade him because teams around the league want him. So while Allen would address a major need, the gap in value is too large for the Pelicans to entertain trading their most valuable asset.<\/p>\n
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