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Brooklyn Nets: Projecting a possible Jarrett Allen extension

ByJerry Trotta|
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 30: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets runs down the court during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on December 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 30: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Brooklyn Nets runs down the court during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on December 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

What could a potential contract extension for Nets center Jarrett Allen look like?

After years of rebuilding through the draft and making blockbuster splashes in free agency, the Brooklyn Nets can finally say they flaunt a championship-caliber roster. The most intriguing nugget of their rejuvenated rotation? That the team’s stars are (for the most part) locked up for at least the next two seasons.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both have a player option in 2022, but you have to think that,  assuming they make a deep run or win it all between now and then, they play out the duration of their respective contracts with the Nets.

In terms of key members of Brooklyn’s rotation whose future with the team isn’t as definitive, however, rim protector Jarrett Allen is the first to come to mind, as his rookie deal is set to expire after the upcoming season.

Taking that into account, let’s attempt to brainstorm what a potential extension for Allen might look like, something the team is reportedly exploring.

In a vacuum, the Nets would be out of their minds to let Allen test free agency next summer, especially since he wasn’t a part of a James Harden trade this month. Given the lack of intriguing big men that will be available on the market — DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond are the most notable names — the former first-round pick will most definitely have a plethora of suitors lined up with lucrative offers for him.

This could force Brooklyn to give Allen more money than they would like, similar to what happened with shooting guard Joe Harris, who inked a four-year, $75 million contract with the franchise this offseason after several teams were reportedly interested in landing his signature.

Then, of course, you have to consider Allen’s overall value to the rotation. Despite what head coach Steve Nash has preached regarding his defensive philosophy, this is going to be a team that heavily relies on its offense to win games. Considering that the 22-year-old (!) flourishes on defense, that only boosts his importance.

With all of this in mind, we’d probably be looking like something along the lines of a three-year, $40 million extension for Allen, which would put him in the 12-15 range in terms of highest-paid players at his position based on annual average salary. If you ask us, that’s a pretty reasonable deal for a player who will likely have to battle veteran DeAndre Jordan for minutes.

Evidenced by his career-best campaign last season — when he averaged 11.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 64.9% from the floor in just 26.5 minutes — Allen is only going to get better with age and the financially-constrained Nets would be smart to get him locked down for the next few years.