One NBA analyst is proposing that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets make a trade this offseason involving Cameron Johnson and Jarrett Allen.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed that the Cavaliers trade Allen, Jaylon Tyson and a 2031 first-round pick (top-14-protected) to the Nets for Johnson.
“Another postseason disappointment, this one coming in the wake of a 64-win regular season, could spur the Cavaliers to reorient the roster around Evan Mobley as the full-time center. That’d mean moving on from Allen, replacing him with a capable frontcourt shooter and scorer in Johnson,” Hughes wrote. “On a pure talent basis, Allen and Johnson are pretty comparable. The former, two years younger, owns career averages of 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. The latter is a career 39.2 percent shooter from deep and just finished up a season marked by a personal-best 18.8 points per game.
“The Cavs’ inclusion of Tyson and a protected future first is based on the assumption that they’re the ones initiating talks because they’re the more desperate party. Brooklyn held onto Johnson through last year’s deadline and would presumably need real enticement beyond Allen (whom it would likely flip in another deal) to agree to a Johnson move. Cleveland gets a floor-stretching combo forward to play next to Mobley in five-out sets, while the Nets get a starting center in his prime who could bring in even more assets in a subsequent deal—all with a recent first-rounder in Tyson and another future pick attached as sweeteners.”
The Cavaliers were the No. 1 seed in the East this year. However, they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs in five games.
Allen appeared in all 82 games for Cleveland this season. He averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks.
In the 2025 playoffs, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks in nine games against the Miami Heat and Pacers. The big man will make $20 million next season.
The Cavaliers were interested in acquiring Johnson before trading for De’Andre Hunter, sources told Hoops Wire.
Johnson averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Nets this season in 57 games while shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc. The guard will make $20.5 million next season.
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