Utah Jazz best/worst-case series: Will Grayson crack the rotation?
Utah Jazz rookie Grayson Allen will have to work for his spot in the rotation, but he has shown in the past he has the guts and competitiveness to battle.
After getting our first look at Grayson Allen, the 21st overall pick in this year’s draft, Utah Jazz fans have got to be excited about what he can bring to this team. During his time in summer league, he showcased his grit, playmaking ability and athleticism.
It’s pretty obvious that Allen has the tools to contribute pretty quickly in the NBA. However, being on a team that is so deep like the Jazz, it may take Allen some time to work his way into some quality playing time.
Whether he is playing or sitting on the bench, Allen will still be playing for one of the best developmental systems in the league. Quin Snyder and company should be able to help this 22-year-old right off the bat.
Best-Case Scenario
The best outcome for Allen in his first season would be having a key role off the bench playing behind Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell.
He’s currently also behind guys like Dante Exum, Royce O’Neale and maybe even Alec Burks on the depth chart, but if he can outplay those guys, shoot the ball at a high level and play good defense, his playing time should be higher than anticipated.
His intensity and passion really shows when he’s on the court. I’d love to see him on the court with a guy like Jae Crowder, getting under the opponent’s skin. He gives the Jazz another pesky player that they can unload in many different lineups.
During his four years at Duke, Allen shot exactly 38 percent from 3-point range. If he can maintain that percentage at the NBA level, or get into the 40-percent mark, that will help his case for minutes.
He didn’t shoot the ball very well during summer league, so it could take him some time to get adjusted to the longer 3-point arc in the big leagues. If he can knock down those open looks and take some pressure off of some of the main guys, that would be a major plus.
I personally feel pretty confident that Allen will get his chance at some point during the season. Injuries are a part of the game, and maybe that will give him an opportunity. However, he’s an NBA-ready player, and I think he’ll earn his spot regardless.
If Allen can keep up on the defensive end and knock down open looks, don’t be surprised to see him leapfrog others in the rotation.
Worst-Case Scenario
Allen’s worst-case scenario would be playing very little for the Jazz, and spending quite a lot of time in the G-League. Obviously, playing in an NBA game and soaking up that experience is huge, but so is getting any type of experience. Playing in the G-League is better than sitting on the bench.
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It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Allen starts the season in the rotation. If he doesn’t play well when given the opportunity, that may not change. Given how deep the Jazz are, Allen is going to have to really earn his minutes.
Like I said earlier, I do think he will get a chance at some point during the season. It’s going to be a tough task with several guys ahead of him, but Allen is up for the competition.
Training camp will certainly be interesting, as the Jazz have several players all vying for minutes.