Given DeAndre Jordan’s relationship with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Allen’s days as the starting center for the Brooklyn Nets may be at an end. But that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old big man can have a significant impact for the Nets going forward.
Allen logged a team-high 30 double-doubles in 70 games last seasons, averaging career-highs in points (11.1) and rebounds (9.4) per game, while playing 26.5 minutes a night. Of course, the big man continued to create problems for opponents attacking the rim last season, averaging 1.3 blocks per game.
Not to mention, Allen was one-half of one of the three best lob duos in the NBA, connecting with Spencer Dinwiddie 40 times last season, trailing only Dinwiddie and Jordan (46) and James Harden and Clint Capella (46) — the latter pair no longer play together.
But none of this is a secret, which is why one agent who took part in The Athletic‘s recent NBA agent survey suggested the Golden State Warriors try to trade the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft to the Brooklyn Nets for Allen:
“Trade it for another star. They should be in a win-now mindset. There’s not a rookie, even Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman, that is actually guaranteed to be great. Trade that pick. What about Brooklyn for Jarrett Allen? He’s a rebounder and shot-blocker who runs the floor, and that’s what they need.”
The problem with that idea: the Nets would have to give up on Allen, or feel he’s redundant so long as Jordan is around. Otherwise, why would Brooklyn — who is also contending for a title — take a chance on a rookie that isn’t “actually guaranteed to be great” in exchange for a 22-year-old center who runs the floor well and can protect the rim?