It’s still unclear what the Charlotte Hornets plan to do with Mark Williams. At one point, trading him this summer seemed almost certain, but replacing him with someone of equal or greater talent could prove difficult. Interestingly, there may be a potential trade target on the market: Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland was expected to reach at least the Eastern Conference Finals after finishing the regular season with a conference-best 64-18 record. However, they were thoroughly outplayed by the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals, managing just one win in the series.
As a result, the Cavaliers are likely considering significant roster changes. The experiment of building around two sets of similar players hasn’t paid off. Concerns about the fit between the undersized backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, and the frontcourt pairing of Allen and Evan Mobley, appear to have been well-founded. After consecutive playoff disappointments, the doubters seem to have been proven right.
Hornets should consider swooping in if Allen becomes available
The Cavaliers may still feel confident in keeping both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, as the two All-Stars have proven they can play effectively together. While perimeter defense would remain a concern, the front office could address that by acquiring more dependable wing defenders.
However, Cleveland might need to take a closer look at the pairing of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the frontcourt this offseason. Despite their strong regular-season performances, they’ve been exploited in back-to-back playoff runs. Some around the league believe Mobley won’t fully realize his offensive potential unless he has more space—something that could happen without Allen, who tends to clog the paint.
If the Cavs decide to put Allen on the trade market and the Hornets no longer view Mark Williams as a long-term piece, a trade involving Allen heading to Charlotte could be mutually beneficial.
One potential drawback is that Williams arguably offers more long-term upside than Allen. Still, the 2022 All-Star has been more durable and offers elite rim protection without needing the ball much on offense.
The challenge for the Hornets would be the cost. Allen has three years and $90.7 million remaining on his deal, which could restrict Charlotte’s financial flexibility. To make a deal work, the Hornets might need to include Miles Bridges—both because Cleveland needs a forward and to match salaries.
There’s also the question of what to do with Williams. Given his injury history, it’s unclear how much interest he’d draw on the trade market.
Ultimately, acquiring Allen would require a serious commitment from Charlotte, but the potential on-court fit is hard to ignore.