Jarret Allen will grow into a bonafide starter
When the Nets signed DeAndre Jordan this offseason, third-year big man Jarrett Allen most likely felt somewhat forgotten amidst the hype surrounding Jordan; which fogged up the memory of a promising year for Allen after he averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per–game.
However, with a former 2x rebound champion climbing aboard for the upcoming season, Allen no longer highlights the Nets roster as a lone rim defending, pick and roll man. With Brooklyn now somewhat overstocked at the center position, a competition determining who should ascend to the starting role lies before both Allen and Jordan.
Consequently, the growth Allen experienced last season appears likely to take a hit. Even after starting most games and logging 26.0 minutes per–game last year, the Fro might see less court time next year strictly due to Jordan’s presence on the team as a tool undeniably similar to Allen himself.
a random NBA thought in mid-September:
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) September 12, 2019
I'd love to know the playing time split for the Nets at center between DAJ and Jarrett Allen.
Truly have no idea what to expect.
Balancing the playtime between the new teammates stands as a difficult future task for head coach Kenny Atkinson, which certainly suggests that Allen might see his former role shrink, or perhaps cease to exits if Jordan manages to play at a more superior level.
Jarrett Allen just got some competition when the #Nets added DeAndre Jordan. Does starting matter to @_bigjayy? “A little bit. Obviously not a little bit; everybody wants to start. But in this case, it doesn’t matter to me.” Then he added “I’ll just say it: I want to start."
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) July 6, 2019
Even if Allen holds onto his occupation as the team’s starting center, each game only offers 48 minutes, and due to his own respective talent, Jordan deserves his own playing time, which likely cuts into Allen’s, just from another direction.