Hoops Habit
Fansided

Utah Jazz: 5 goals for Grayson Allen’s rookie season

By Mason McFee

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 5: Grayson Allen #24 of the Utah Jazz speaks to the media after the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 5, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 5: Grayson Allen #24 of the Utah Jazz speaks to the media after the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 5, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images /

5. Rank top-five in 3-point shooting on Jazz roster

The goal is general, but even for a first round pick, it’s unfair to place some unrealistic expectation on a 22-year-old kid.

As already touched on, Allen is an excellent 3-point shooter. Whether he spends most of the season playing for the Salt Lake City Stars (the Jazz’s G League affiliate) or spends every game on Utah’s bench remains to be seen, but at the very least, that is one thing Allen is already very good at it. Why can’t he be top-five on this Jazz roster?

The Jazz are running it back, as evidenced by the Raul Neto, Dante Exum and Derrick Favors re-signings. The top 3-point shooter on Utah’s roster last season was Jinglin’ Joe Ingles, checking in at 44.0 percent from deep, which was tied for fourth in league with Klay Thompson. The second- and fourth-best 3-point shooters are no longer on the team (Jonas Jerebko and Rodney Hood). The fifth-lowest belonged to Royce O’Neale at 35.6 percent. Allen could easily rank second or third by season’s end.

If it’s not 3-point shooting, why not rebounding? The second-highest average belonged to Derrick Favors (7.2 per game), but the next highest was Ricky Rubio‘s 4.6 per game average. If Allen could average as many as he did in Summer League, it’s not outlandish to say he could hover around Rubio’s average next season if he received some playing time.

The bottom line is don’t be surprised if Allen exceeds expectations.

Home/Utah Jazz