The Atlanta Hawks have expressed interest in acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, but Cleveland has shown no willingness to discuss moving its starting center, according to Marc Stein.
“Sources say that the Hawks have indeed made their interest in Jarrett Allen known to Cleveland for some time, but I’m told that Cleveland still has not entertained moving its starting center,” Stein reported.
Allen, 28, is entering the first season of a three-year, $90.7 million contract extension and remains a key part of Cleveland’s long-term plans alongside Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 52-30 record, earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and reached the conference finals before being swept by the New York Knicks.
Cleveland’s reluctance to move Allen is understandable given his impact on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-9 center averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 56 games during the 2025-26 season while shooting 63.8% from the field. He has remained one of the NBA’s most efficient interior scorers, with a career 64.1% field-goal percentage.
Allen also provides defensive stability in the Cavaliers’ frontcourt. He was an All-Star in 2021-22 and has received Defensive Player of the Year votes in multiple seasons, including a 10th-place finish in 2023-24. His ability to protect the rim, rebound and defend without needing offensive touches has made him a valuable complement to Mobley.
Atlanta’s interest comes as the Hawks continue reshaping their roster following the trade of Trae Young and a shift toward a more defensive identity built around Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. The Hawks finished 46-36 in 2025-26 and reached the playoffs, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Knicks in six games.
The Hawks already have a productive young center in Onyeka Okongwu, who averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 74 games last season. However, Allen would provide a different level of interior presence and championship experience for a team looking to build around Johnson and its new defensive core.
Allen’s potential fit in Atlanta would come alongside a frontcourt led by Johnson, who averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 2025-26 while earning All-Star honors. Adding Allen would give the Hawks a high-level pick-and-roll partner and a reliable defensive anchor behind their perimeter defenders.
