Grade the Trade: Dallas Mavericks finally get All-Star center in wild proposal

Why would Cleveland Cavaliers trade an All-Star to the Dallas Mavericks?

The Cavaliers were tied for the fifth-best regular season record in the NBA but failed to make it beyond the first round of the playoffs. They should be questioning the validity of their undersized backcourt and their frontcourt pairing. Can Cleveland win at the highest level with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland? Do they need to split up Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley?

The Cavs desperately need wing depth. Adding strong versatile defenders on the perimeter would take some pressure off Mitchell and Garland and give head coach J.B. Bickerstaff more options.

Maxi Kleber can play as a four or small ball five, but his unique ability to protect the rim, defend on the perimeter, and space the floor would be massive in Cleveland. Reggie Bullock was outstanding during the Mavs' run to the conference finals, and he gives them someone capable of guarding on the ball.

The Cleveland Cavaliers give up the best player in this deal but get two needed rotation pieces and the tenth overall pick. Adding a young cost-controlled talent to their roster would be significant as their roster is about to get expensive. It also allows Cleveland to move Evan Mobley to the five where he can be a massive mismatch for the opposition.

Is it the best trade the Cleveland Cavaliers can make for Jarrett Allen? Maybe not, but it certainly improves their roster’s depth and versatility moving forward.