Ultimate Upside Comparison: DeAndre Jordan
Safe Upside Comparison: John Henson
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: 32.2 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.0 ORPG, 1.5 BPG
The time has come for the Toronto Raptors to create an ultimatum for starting center Jonas Valanciunas. He’s shown flashes of greatness throughout his career, but has been unable to sustain his success or grow defensively.
Texas Longhorns center Jarrett Allen is a powerful, explosive, and long big man who has the tools to excel in the areas Valanciunas has been unable to.
Many centers have length, athleticism, and strength, but Allen has a mean streak to him that could permit legitimate NBA stardom. He has the physical profile of a lottery pick and the type of game that could enable Masai Ujiri to trade Valanciunas.
If Valanciunas is kept around, then Allen could still be the defensive anchor whom the Raptors need to have on the court against elite opponents.
Allen has similar physical measurements to DeAndre Jordan and a level of athleticism that also compares. On the court, he’s shown no hesitation to embrace contact and play through it on both ends of the floor.
The New York Knicks would benefit from adding a center like Allen to the roster, but instead, it’s the Raptors that find a potential All-Star.