Utah Jazz: 2018 NBA Draft grades
By Mason McFee
No. 21: Grayson Allen, Duke
Whether Jazz fans like it or not, Grayson Allen was the first of two additions the Jazz made to their roster ahead of free agency. For some Jazz fans, they would fall under the latter category:
"What do you think about Grayson Allen?"
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) June 22, 2018
Us: pic.twitter.com/bJWcT22x5O
Reactions like those are probably more attributed to Allen’s on-court antics of tripping players over the years and questionable, um, defense, but Allen has kept his name out of the headlines during his senior season at Duke, and seems to have cleaned up his act.
The season has to start to really get a read on Grayson’s character, but one resident Utah guard was quite happy about the pick:
New teammates! pic.twitter.com/ullN5bvgu0
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 22, 2018
The radio voice of the Jazz, David Locke, had this to say on the selection of Allen:
Everytime I watched Grayson Allen I liked him more. Can play both guard spots, but is better off ball. Will be a really good weak side offensive player both as shooter and driver. Has NBA athleticism. Gets every 50 50 ball. Plays hard and that is a skill
— David Locke (@DLocke09) June 22, 2018
The selection of Allen doesn’t tell us anything about the future of Derrick Favors with the Jazz, but it may offer some insight into the futures of restricted free agents Dante Exum and Raul Neto.
During his rookie season, Neto actually made 52 starts, appearing in 81 games, but has since moved to being a full-time reserve point guard. Neto has shown flashes of being a solid player in this league, as evidenced by his career 38.8 percent mark from deep, but is a career 4.7 points per game scorer. Allen should easily surpass that number if he starts the season with the Utah Jazz and not the Salt Lake City Stars (the Jazz’s G League affiliate).
As for Exum, there’s definitely some upside in that 6’6″ frame, but he’s already missed a full season due to an ACL tear, and has a concerning injury history. To make matters worse, Exum’s 3-point percentage has decreased every year he’s been in the league, posting a career-worst 27.8 percent from deep this past season. Allen never shot below 34.7 percent from deep, a number that Exum has not cleared once. Allen and Exum (and Neto) are all completely different players, but there’s something to be said for Allen’s proven 3-point shooting ability. He had this to say on what he wants to bring to the Jazz:
Grayson Allen on 97.5 The Zone about his fit in the Jazz system: "I’m a guy that I don’t want to pound the ball. I want to pass. I want to do things off the ball."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) June 22, 2018
Neto and Exum don’t exactly excel at that.
Allen isn’t without his warts, but for a Utah team that needed to add (cheap) shooters this offseason, this was a solid pick (character issues aside).
Grade: B+