The Brooklyn Nets may just be the biggest winners of the 2019 offseason after adding two superstars in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Nets were already one of the brighter young teams in the NBA, and some are forgetting that they still have a few of those pieces in place.
While D’Angelo Russell was sent to Golden State in the sign and trade for Durant, 21-year-old center Jarrett Allen remains. This is significant because along with Durant and Irving, the Nets also added their close friend DeAndre Jordan. However, even with a veteran of Jordan’s caliber now on the roster, Allen told The Athletic’s Michael Scotto that he still hopes to start.
I asked Jarrett Allen if it matters to him if he starts or comes off the bench. He replied, "You know, a little bit. I mean, obviously, it matters a little bit. Everybody wants to start, but in this case, it doesn’t matter to me. F— it, yeah, I want to start. F— it (laughs)."
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 6, 2019
Jarrett Allen certainly reserves every right to believe he should start, especially considering his raw age and upward trajectory. Allen has become a menace on the defensive side of the ball and did an excellent job anchoring the Nets the past two seasons.
However with Jordan around, Allen likely sees the writing on the wall. Jordan’s game has declined significantly from his prime, but the All-Star is still likely going to be the starting center when the season opens. The Texas A&M product has started every game he’s been active for since 2011.
IT’ll be intriguing to see how the Nets deploy their two starting-caliber centers, especially considering that both Jordan and Allen bring certain similar skillsets to the table. Jordan signed a lengthy four-year deal as well, making this a situation worth monitoring as the 2019-20 season approaches.
