A handful of championship rings is a mark of true elite status. Since the year 2000, only a select few—Rob Horry, Kobe Bryant, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher, and Tim Duncan—have claimed a fifth ring. As the 2024-25 season begins, LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the only active players with a realistic shot at joining this exclusive group.
However, both the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to make a deep playoff run. Following the loss of Klay Thompson, the Warriors are predicted to slip further into NBA mediocrity, potentially denying their legendary point guard a final top-tier finish.
That said, Golden State might pursue a major trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers that could not only give them a chance but also make them strong contenders for the title.
The Cavaliers, aiming for a playoff push, currently start two traditional centers: Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Both players excel near the rim but are not known for their floor-spacing abilities. Given this, it would make sense for the Cavs to trade one of these big men to add more versatility to their lineup.
Although Allen recently signed a three-year, $91 million extension, he is unlikely to complete his contract in Ohio. Meanwhile, the Warriors have Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, and Trayce Jackson-Davis in their center rotation, yet all three are better suited as backups or power forwards. With Allen potentially available for trade, the Warriors could make a move for the All-Star.
In exchange, Cleveland could benefit from adding some wing scoring, particularly for their bench. In a recent article for *The King James Gospel*, Moses Moody was mentioned as a potential trade target for the Cavaliers.
Caleb Crowley noted, “The 22-year-old NBA Champion already has a valuable playoff resume and has proven himself as a solid 3-and-D wing since his rookie campaign.
His innate athleticism, mature attitude, and steady production could make Moody a perfect addition to the Cavaliers’ roster.” While Moody alone might not be enough to secure Allen, the Warriors could assemble a compelling trade package. In this hypothetical trade scenario, Golden State would be fully committed to making a championship push.
**Proposed Deal:**
The **Golden State Warriors** receive:
– **Jarrett Allen** (C)
The **Cleveland Cavaliers** receive:
– **Moses Moody** (SG/SF)
– **Kevon Looney** (C)
– **Kyle Anderson** (SF/PF)
– **2026 and 2028 First-Round Picks**
In this trade, the Cavaliers gain two solid bench players in Anderson and Moody, who would enhance their second unit on both offense and defense. Looney provides Cleveland with an experienced and dependable backup center to support Mobley.
Additionally, the two future first-round picks offer the Cavaliers valuable assets to complement their core players over time. For the Warriors, Allen’s presence as a formidable center would significantly boost their interior defense, positioning them as stronger contenders for the championship.
With Allen on board, the Warriors could feature a potent starting lineup of Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Jarrett Allen.
This lineup is already formidable, but the Warriors’ bench depth—featuring Buddy Hield, Andrew Wiggins, and De’Anthony Melton—adds even more firepower.
This flexibility allows Golden State to either focus on a defensive strategy with Podziemski, Allen, Green, and Kuminga, or maximize floor spacing by surrounding Allen with Curry, Podziemski, Kuminga, and Hield. With this setup, the Warriors can tailor their approach to exploit opponents’ weaknesses and pursue another championship run.
With Allen available for trade, the Warriors may be the team most in need of an All-Star center like him. Golden State also possesses the kind of supporting players that would fit well with the Cavaliers’ needs, making them an ideal trade partner.
