NBA Trade Rumors: Jarrett Allen Deal Doubted by Teams After Cavs' Kenny Atkinson Hire

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has been the subject of trade rumors, but some teams believe the arrival of new Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, who coached Allen when the two were together on the Brooklyn Nets, decreases the chance of a move.

"The arrival of Kenny Atkinson as Cleveland's new coach has convinced various teams that Jarrett Allen has just become even harder to pry from the Cavaliers via trade than he was previously," longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported. "And it was hard before."

Atkinson coached the Nets for four seasons (2016-2020). Allen came aboard prior to Atkinson's second year (2017-18) after the Nets selected him 22nd overall in the 2017 draft.

Allen, who has played seven NBA seasons, averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks per game last year. Thanks in part to his efforts, the Cleveland Cavaliers reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time without LeBron James since 1993.

Still, there were trade murmurs on Allen, although nothing that appeared too serious.

"I think they'd have to be blown away for them to consider it (moving Garland and Allen) on both fronts," Chris Fedor of cleveland.com said on the HoopsHype podcast on June 12.

"They've gotten offers in the past for Allen specifically. Teams have been poking around on Allen for the last couple of years."

ESPN's Brian Windhorst recently confirmed other teams' interest in Allen but added that a move seemed unlikely with Atkinson in town.

So signs are pointing to Allen, who is on a five-year, $100 million deal that runs through 2025-26, staying in town. That all but means the Cavs should be retaining their core four from last year, which got the biggest piece back when five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million extension.