Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: Which current players should be part of long-term plan?

By Chris Milholen

BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 25: The Brooklyn Nets bench celebrates during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 25, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 25: The Brooklyn Nets bench celebrates during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 25, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
BOSTON – APRIL 11: Boston Celtics’ Shane Larkin, Guerschon Yabusele and Aron Baynes watch Brooklyn Nets’ Jarrett Allen slam dunk during the second quarter. The Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets in a regular season NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on April 11, 2018. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Jarrett Allen

Jarrett Allen was drafted No. 22 overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA Draft. Allen was expected to spend some time in the G-League with the Long Island Nets in order to develop into an NBA-ready player.

Allen got off to a sluggish start with Brooklyn. He was not expected to enter the starting lineup for a couple months, but that quickly changed. Timofey Mozgov did not play well and showed signs of poor conditioning.

The 20-year-old center would quickly get a starting job at center and recorded his first big scoring game against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 2. He scored 12 points in the loss, but his game began to grow.

The month of January was a big one for the rookie. He started only two of 16 games for Brooklyn at center, but would average 18.5 minutes, 6.9 points and 4.9  rebounds per game and set the stage for a huge February.

Allen secured his spot as the starting center for Brooklyn in February and showed moments of  dominant play, improving extremely well and growing his confidence as he averaged 12.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in an expanded 23.9 minutes a night.

On Feb. 26, Allen’s Kodak moment happened. Allen got the ball at the top of the paint and drove to the basket throwing down a monstrous poster dunk on fellow rookie Lauri Markkanen of the Chicago Bulls.

Social media and the NBA universe blew up over the poster slam. He ended his spotlight night with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Allen remained consistent over the final months of the season. He ended his rookie campaign averaging 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

His rookie season proved to the Nets and their fans he is here to stay. Allen will be a huge part of the Nets future. He should be a piece to build around at the center position but he has to develop in some areas.

He needs to improve his mid-range shooting and his physical dominance.