LAS VEGAS — The Nets’ offseason has been about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But their preseason may be about Jarrett Allen versus DeAndre Jordan.
Allen is the incumbent starting center. Jordan has done nothing but start since 2011. Oh, and he’s best friends with Durant.
Something’s got to give.
And who cedes playing time will be fascinating to watch — and may give insight into the team’s direction and mindset.
“I think Allen does and should start,” former Raptors and Hawks scout Bryan Oringher told The Post. “I thought DeAndre Jordan was mostly ceremonial, honestly; a friendship thing. [Allen’s] supposed to get the minutes.”
But will he?
The Nets clearly see Allen, 21, as part of their core going forward. But will he be a starter come October?
Jordan has lost a step defensively, but he has started every game in which he has played for eight straight seasons. The last time he came off the bench was April 6, 2011, then he proceeded to play (and start) every game for the next four straight years.
And it would be naive to ignore the fact that Jordan’s friendship with Durant (and Irving) helped the Nets’ free-agent windfall. Durant and Irving even took discounts to give Brooklyn enough cap space to hand Jordan a four-year, $40 million contract.
It’s a deal that raised a few eyebrows.
“They end up giving him a ridiculous contract because those guys are like, ‘Here, take some money.’ That’ll end up looking stupid when the Nets need to upgrade the roster more,” said one Eastern Conference exec. “DeAndre’s fine for a backup center, I guess. He just doesn’t seem to have much left in the tank, whereas Allen is blossoming.
“You have to [because of Durant], I guess. It’s just going to be funny in two, three years when they’ve got this ridiculous DeAndre Jordan contract no one wants and feel like they need to upgrade the roster.”
Until then, other scouts said Jordan upgrades the roster, starter or not. At 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, he can bang with the wide bodies that Allen can’t.
Is Jordan complementary for Allen, a mentor or a backup? They’re not mutually exclusive. He can be all at different points in this contract.
Jordan can still play and still help a team. Well, a team other than the Knicks.
With the Knicks tanking and looking to develop Mitchell Robinson, Jordan played just 19 games and took a dozen DNPs, including the last seven games of the season.
Jordan stayed professional, but behind the scenes as he, Durant and Irving talked about playing together in New York, that eventually shifted from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
But now that Jordan is with the Nets, will he accept a reduced role and come off the bench for the first time in eight years?
“I think in this dynamic — he’s playing with his buddies — yes, I do. Every player wants to play. Since they’re all kumbaya, you’d think Jordan can accept a lesser role,” said a Western Conference scout, who wondered if Kenny Atkinson might try a rare baseball-style platoon.
“It may be matchup-based. Teams don’t generally do that, but obviously [Joel] Embiid had his way with Allen. DeAndre Jordan is taller, longer, physical bigger; he can match up better. Would they do that, ego sensitivities being what they are? You generally go with one starter.
“Allen can run. They’re both good shot-blockers. Jordan’s always been a good rebounder. Allen’s good, [but] not as good. Offensively they’re both limited. You can run pick-and-roll lob with both. You’re not going to throw the ball in the post. Jordan has no [post] game; maybe Allen develops it. He’s a younger version.”