Nets make it official: Sign Jarrett Allen to rookie deal

The Nets have officially signed Jarrett Allen, their first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, to a multi-year, rookie contract. The Nets control Allen’s rights for up to four years under the deal. Allen will make $1,713,720 this season, the seventh highest salary on the team.

Allen, the sixth youngest pick in the draft at 19 years and three months, was taken at No. 22 with the pick the Nets acquired in the deadline deal with Washington. That deal sent Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough to Washington for the 22nd pick, Andrew Nicholson and Marcus Thornton, who was later waived by Brooklyn.

Allen had been projected as a lottery pick through most of the pre-draft process, then suddenly dropped just before the Draft. League sources indicated the Nets had him on their internal mock draft. He did not play in the NBA Summer League because of a left hip flexor injury. The move was mainly precautionary.

Allen is in Texas this week and stopped by KXAN in Austin to talk about his transition to the NBA.

The Austin native told KXAN’s Roger Wallace he’s healthy and ready to go.

Allen (6’11”, 234) spent one season (2016-17) at the University of Texas, appearing in 33 games and recording averages of 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 32.1 minutes per contest. He led his team in rebounding, blocked shots and minutes played while ranking second in scoring. Allen shot 56.6 percent (179-of-316) overall from the field, reaching double figures in scoring 25 times and in rebounding on 14 occasions.

The Round Rock, Texas, native recorded 12 double-doubles on the year (tied for third-most by a freshman in UT history), including eight in Big 12 Conference play. He ranked fourth on the school’s all-time chart in total rebounds (278) and rebounding average (8.4) by a freshman. Following the season, Allen was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team and to the league’s all-newcomer list.

Allen has said his biggest need at the moment is strength. Don’t be surprised if he spends time in the G-League with the Long Island Nets. The Nets second round pick, Aleks Vezenkov, will continue to play with F.C. Barcelona in the Spanish League next season. He’s a 6’9” small forward.

• Brooklyn Nets Sign Jarrett Allen - Brooklyn Nets