Cavs: Jarrett Allen at #17 is just right in FS ranking; should move up in ’22
FanSided has recently been unveiling their top 25 players in the NBA under the age of 25, with the 10-6 listed players having been released on Thursday. The top 5 will be released on Friday. I had previously written that Cleveland Cavaliers fan favorite Collin Sexton was misplaced, and ranked too low on the list at 25.
In my opinion, Sexton should have been the 21st-ranked player on the list. That can be argued at a later time. Regardless, their ranking of Jarrett Allen at #17 feels just right. Ranked behind him are Detroit Pistons rookie wing Cade Cunningham at #18, and Jaren Jackson Jr. at #19. Jackson and Cunningham both have sky-high ceilings.
The unfortunate thing for Jackson is he can’t fight off the injury bug. If he’s able to stay healthy for a full season, he will sky-rocket up these rankings. As for Cunningham, honestly, by the end of this NBA season, he’ll more than likely be in the top 10. Allen’s ceiling is seemingly very high as well, but not quite as high, which is why he’s ranked ahead of them.
Allen could crack the Top 12 in this FanSided ranking in 2022.
As I said, I think this is the perfect spot for Allen. I think there is a case to be made for him to be ranked higher. Of the centers that have been unveiled on this list, “31” holds his own. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is the highest-ranked center on the board thus far. While I’m not a huge fan of his, there’s no denying he’s a star.
The big man out of Kentucky averaged 18.7 points per game this past season, along with nine rebounds, a block, and five assists. He’s clearly the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to young centers. With that being said, this time next year, Bam will be 25, and no longer eligible for the list. So Allen would move either way, barring a disastrous season. While comparing Allen and Adebayo, Allen isn’t that far behind Bam, when considering he’s a year younger.
Allen averaged 13.2 points per game this past season. He also grabbed nearly ten rebounds per game (9.9), and nearly a block and a half per game. Allen doesn’t have the distributing instincts that Bam does, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t be far behind Bam in terms of points this coming season, and with more opportunity to settle in, he took take a noticeable step forward.
The other center ranked ahead of Allen, is my personal favorite young center in the league, Deandre Ayton. The center from Arizona comes in ranked at #9. Ayton exploded onto the scene during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, and some people out there, possibly me, were not surprised.
His best NBA season was actually the pandemic-plagued season of 2019-2020. He averaged 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He did all that while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field and 75 percent from the charity stripe. His statistics took a step backwards last season, but that was to be expected with the addition of star point guard Chris Paul.
But during the playoffs he really showed he had grown. He averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and one block per game over 22 games in the playoffs. He also showed that he had grown, physically, in the NBA Finals versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Not many players in the NBA can stare down Giannis Antetokounmpo and take him head on, but Ayton did it with some success. Now, let’s realize, 97 percent of the NBA has zero success doing that.
Overall, in my opinion, all three players were placed pretty well in this list. I would lobby to put Ayton above De’Aaron Fox, and possibly even Bam. Ayton’s and Adebayo’s entire package on the court is better than Allen’s right now. Now, there’s no reason that can’t change.
Allen has the ability to broaden his range to 12-16 feet, and become an even better scorer. He and Ayton are both considerably better rebounders than Adebayo, already. I would even go as far to say that with rookie big Evan Mobley around him, and Darius Garland, who will take the next step this year, feeding him, Allen will crack the top-12 next season.