Brooklyn Nets: Jarrett Allen deserves to start over Deandre Jordan

After a home run in free agency, some questions still linger for the young core the Brooklyn Nets organization has quickly developed.

It goes without question that the Brooklyn Nets had quite possibly the best offseason in franchise history, the top signings being Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Without a doubt, these signings will impact the Nets significantly, but one signing does introduce some question marks for the team.

With the signing of Deandre Jordan, it seemed the Nets completed the trifecta and had developed their big three in one day. With the money and the number of years Brooklyn signed him for (4 years, 40 million), it shows that he will most likely be the starting center. There is no way you will be getting paid 10 million dollars annually to come off the bench for the next four years. The only problem is, the Nets already have a very talented star in Jarrett Allen who really should be considered for that starting role.

First of all, let’s not take anything away from Jordan. Last season with the Mavericks and New York Knicks, Jordan averaged 11.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. Overall, he has an average of 9.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. His 13.1 rebounds per game last season ranked third in the league just behind Andre Drummond (15.6) and Joel Embiid (13.6).  With 10.9 rebounds as a career average will undoubtedly help the Nets score off some second-chance opportunities. He has improved his free throw percentage, now holding 70.5% from the line, and his field goal percentage is still useful with 63.4%. It is down from his career-high in 2016-2017 when he had 71.4%.

Allen has been some of the bright spots of Brooklyn’s young core early on in his career. Allen has grown to become the starting center for the team over the past two years, appearing in 72 games in his rookie season and starting 31, and starting 80 games in his second year. He has averaged 10.9 points with 8.4 rebounds which is an improvement from his rookie season where he averaged 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds. With Allen getting the playing time he deserves, he has allowed himself to improve and face the very best this league has got to offer. His skill to meet challenging shots and the rim and deny some of the best players in the league such as Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Lebron James.

It seems as if Allen is just getting started, and taking away his playing time as he is picking up steam does not look like the right move. At only 20 years old, he has averaged 1.5 blocks a game which is just outside the top ten in the league among centers. Considering his number he put up in the Summer League which seemed pretty unnecessary for him to participate in, he still averaged 16.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks.

As of right now, it seems Jordan will get the start here. Jordan has started in every game he has appeared in since the 2011-2012 season, and with the money and the years he has signed only to prove this case more. The Nets have to be careful they don’t see a decline in Allen by pulling playing time away from him. This could potentially lose him in the future to a team that can offer him more minutes.