2017 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Pre-Draft
By Owen Nelson
Having addressed their perimeter defensive issue with their first pick in the first round, the Portland Trail Blazers will now address their interior defensive problem with their second first round pick. Aside from risking it with Harry Giles, Jarrett Allen is the best big man prospect left on the board, it surprising that he is still on the board, he could easily get selected as high as the late lottery.
Allen will provide the Trail Blazers with some much needed athleticism, he can move very well for someone of his size. Prior to acquiring Jusuf Nurkic from the Denver Nuggets last season, the Trail Blazers’ interior defence was non-existent.
Allen also has a solid offensive game, he’s still pretty raw but is effective. Sitting behind Nurkic for a season or two will be beneficial for Allen, maybe even a spell down in the G-League would help Allen adjust to the speed of the game. Picking Allen at 20 has the potential of being one of the steals of the draft.