Jarrett Allen says he would have traded himself for James Harden too

Jarrett Allen doesn’t fault the Brooklyn Nets for trading him for superstar shooting guard James Harden.

The Brooklyn Nets let it be known in the summer of 2019 that they were all-in on competing for an NBA championship after they signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency. However, there was speculation that the team could add James Harden to form their own big-three a la the Miami Heat in the 2010’s. As it turns out, the deal came to fruition last week after acquiring the disgruntled star from the Houston Rockets in a four-team trade that also included the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.

To ensure the trade went through, the Nets had to surrender multiple first-round draft picks and key depth players. One of the athletes to be traded was big-man Jarrett Allen, who had been with the team since they selected him in the first-round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Now a member of the Cavaliers, Allen reflected on his time with the Nets and revealed that he doesn’t blame the team for trading him for Harden. He’d do the same if he were in Nets general manager Sean Marks’ shoes.

Allen understands why he was sent to Cleveland.

“In all honesty, I would say I would do it, I’m not going to lie,” Allen said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “If you look at what happened with the Lakers, they did the same thing. They went and got their ring. If I take myself out of it, I would’ve loved to stay in Brooklyn, but I understand that in an opportunity like that, you have to go do it.”

Allen isn’t lying with that comparison. The Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Saints for players and draft picks last offseason. And sure enough, the Davis-LeBron James duo defeated the Heat in six games to win the NBA title. Allen knows the Nets are trying to go down a similar path.

The 22-year-old center played in 12 games with the Nets this season before the blockbuster transaction became official.  Allen averaged 11.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 67.7-percent from the field.

Allen will look to prove his worth in Cleveland, as he’s set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He gets to do so on Wednesday night in his debut with the Cavaliers against, ironically, the Nets.