(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Pelicans are at an interesting point in their development as a franchise after getting swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it’s time for the team to fortify its young core and start competing with the big boys out in the Western Conference.
The core pieces of this roster have questionable fits alongside one another, but early reports this offseason indicate the team is looking to add another notable young veteran to bolster its frontcourt for the long term.
Christian Clark from NOLA.com shared that the Pelicans have already shown “significant” trade interest in Cleveland Cavaliers star center Jarrett Allen, adding that the Pelicans plan to move on from center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason as he enters unrestricted free agency.
The Pelicans have shown “significant” trade interest in Jarrett Allen, per @cclark_13 (https://t.co/yvz3Wu387V).
New Orleans plans to move on from Jonas Valanciunas as he enters unrestricted free agency. pic.twitter.com/AKbmQEbE86
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 16, 2024
Allen got injured in the postseason and there were plenty of rumors out of Cleveland that things weren’t great in the locker room in that many questioned why he hadn’t returned to the court at some point during the Cavs’ playoff run, which added to his questionable fit alongside fellow young star big man Evan Mobley, add plenty of fuel to the trade fire.
The Cavs have tough decisions to make with both their frontcourt and backcourt this offseason, as star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland also have shown to be a questionable fit alongside one another, leaving many wondering if Mitchell could be on his way out as well as he seeks his next big contract.
Allen would add a dynamic the Pelicans have not had since Anthony Davis left, and would be a drastically different type of player than Valanciunas for this franchise.
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