Lakers Predicted To Land $91 Million All-Star Center in Blockbuster Trade To Fuel LeBron James’ Last Championship Push

The most chaotic point of the NBA offseason for every organization is on the horizon, as the NBA draft and free agency are nearing.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, the focus will be on taking their playoff-caliber roster to one of the favorites to emerge victorious in the Western Conference. Lakers superstar LeBron James is nearing the end of his career, so finding players who fit his retirement timeline is ideal. The 40-year-old hints at calling it a career rather consistently but is yet to set a timeframe on ending his illustrious time in the NBA.

Following the Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Dončić in the blockbuster February trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas, the team’s championship window has reopened. However, L.A.’s biggest remaining need is an established talent who can anchor the frontcourt, which is where an All-Star on an underachieving contender could come in.

Lakers Could Target Jarrett Allen in Potential Blockbuster Trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2025 regular season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record. However, they fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the eventual runner-up Indiana Pacers, leading many to believe significant changes are coming to their roster. The Pacers ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game NBA Finals series.

Cleveland has two standout players in the frontcourt with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Considering Mobley’s youth and upside, Allen will likely end up on the trade block first if the front office seeks a major shake-up. Hoop Habit’s Ismail Sy predicts the following blockbuster trade could take place between the Lakers and Cavaliers.

• Lakers receive: Jarrett Allen
• Cavaliers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Dalton Knecht, 2031 first-round pick, 2032 first-round pick swap

Jarrett Allen defense on guards and wings + some superb closeouts pic.twitter.com/g8w03wO4Jk

— 💫 johnnie bryant fan (@HsgvensSon) July 27, 2022

“Finney-Smith gives the Cavs a stronger and more versatile option at the point of attack defensively and much-needed toughness on the wing as well,” Sy wrote. “He is also a marksman from three-point range, making 41.1 percent of his tries this past season.”

“This trade is more so about the Cavs giving Mobley the keys than it is about Allen’s abilities. Receiving a playoff-tested veteran in Finney-Smith and an intriguing young player in Knecht could be enough for Cleveland to move on from Allen,” Sy concluded.

Why This Trade Makes Sense for Both Teams

Losing Finney-Smith will hurt the Lakers’ wing depth, but cutting ties with Knecht and an unprotected first are not the end of the world. Knecht is already in an awkward position in L.A. due to February’s failed trade with the Charlotte Hornets, where the deal was rescinded after center Mark Williams failed his physical examination.

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Meanwhile, Dončić will likely have the keys to the Lakers’ organization by 2031, making the future first-round pick less valuable to the current core.

Allen is not only one of the best potentially available centers the Lakers can land, but his three-year, $91 million contract extension lines up perfectly between the James and Dončić eras in L.A. Let’s say James plays until the 2027 season, Allen would still remain under his current deal for two additional seasons, where the Lakers’ front office can analyze his fit next to the Dončić-led squad.

He’d only be in his early 30s by the time it expires, meaning it’s not a huge risk to extend his contract if he meshes well with the Slovenian superstar. The 26-year-old Allen has established himself as one of the league’s premier rim protectors while averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds last season before his playoff injury.