Cleveland Cavaliers Land Jarrett Allen In Harden Trade: Reports

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are facilitating the James Harden trade between the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets, receiving Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince for their efforts.

The Rockets sent their superstar, Harden, to the Nets on Wednesday, ending a monthslong dance of "Will they? Won't they?" In return for Harden, Houston receives Caris Lavert, Dante Exum (from Cleveland) and Rodion Kurucs, along with four first-round picks and four pick swaps. Milwaukee's 2022 first (which belonged to Cleveland) was one of the four picks sent to Houston, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

In a subsequent trade, Houston sent Lavert to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo.

Harden will be the headline grabber in reports on the trade, but the Cavaliers secured a handsome reward for greasing the wheels of the trade.

Allen is a young, starting-caliber big man who can protect the rim and roll to the hoop. Prince is a bench player who can initiate offense and play solid defense on the perimeter.

With Allen landing on the Cavaliers, Cleveland's logjam of big men thickens. Allen will compete for floor time with Andre Drummond, Larry Nance Jr., Kevin Love and Javale McGee. It is fair to speculate that one or more additional trades could be in Cleveland's future.

Allen is currently averaging 11.2 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocks. He is 22 years old, according to Basketball Reference.