Toronto Raptors: Cavaliers present ideal centre trade targets

Toronto Raptors could see Jarrett Allen’s age as a major bonus

Jarrett Allen may not be the model of the supposed modern-day big, but the six-foot-11 centre is very good at doing six-foot-11 centre things.

The reason why Allen falls below Love is simply because out of the three fine centres they possess, Cleveland is the least likely to let Allen go. He’s their main piece from the Harden deal, and has been stellar for the team thus far, exacting revenge on his former team with two great games against the Nets to open his Cavs career.

Allen does lack that three-point shot that is so critical to Nurse’s strategy, but he is an efficient finisher around the rim and would provide the size that the Raptors sorely lack.

But perhaps the two prime reasons why the Raptors are in the running for Allen are found off the court. First off, Allen is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. Secondly, he’s only 22.

If the Raptors can somehow pry Allen from Cleveland, then they’d be locking up one of the best young centres in the league for the foreseeable future. It might necessitate a scheme change, or maybe there’s a three-point shot in there somewhere that Toronto’s crack development team can tease out.

Either way, the ‘fro would solve the Raptors’ issues with centre production in a heartbeat.