2017 NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks and the value of the point guard

26. Portland Trail Blazers: Jarrett Allen, Texas Longhorns

Position: Center
Age: 19 (4/21/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10.25″, 234 pounds, 7’5.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .566/.000/.564
2016-17 Season Averages: 32.1 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.0 ORPG, 1.5 BPG

The Portland Trail Blazers selected power forward John Collins at No. 15 overall and point guard Jawun Evans at No. 20. With the third of three first-round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Trail Blazers invest in the type of player that Festus Ezeli was meant to be: a shot-blocker and rebounder.

The Trail Blazers need a severe improvement on the defensive end of the floor, and that can start with drafting Texas Longhorns center Jarrett Allen.

Allen is comparable to Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan in that he’s an explosive athlete with a monster wingspan—and, for what it’s worth, a better stroke at the free throw line. He can use that 7’5.25” wingspan to contest shots at the rim and corral rebounds on both ends of the floor.

With a 35.5” max vertical leap at his size and length, Allen has the ability to easily play above the rim—and he embraces the physicality that comes with such an approach.

For Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Evans, having Allen for the pick and roll would add an efficient element to the offense. He’d also be an ideal presence on the defensive end of the floor in the sense that he can protect the rim and enable the perimeter players to gamble for steals.

It would behoove Portland to trade one or two of these draft picks, but it has a need for a rim-protecting big man and Allen would check that very box.