The Golden Choice, Part 11: Why Grayson Allen could fit the Warriors

Whether you love him or hate him, Grayson Allen’s intensity and shooting ability will drive him to success in the NBA.

By Charlie Stanton Jun 18, 2018, 12:00pm PDT

Basketball lovers (except Duke fans) view Grayson Allen as “The Lucifer of Roundball.” The four-year Duke Blue Devil certainly left the NCAA with a legacy— a legacy defined by ill-advised trips and a strange resemblance to Ted Cruz. With a handful of different judgement calls on his end and some different genes though, Allen’s Duke tenure could just as easily have been defined by his high-flying dunks, three-point marksmanship or his the national title victory his freshman season.

Allen will likely be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday Night. Here’s why he deserves it, why he might go to the Warriors and why he might not.

The pros and cons of Grayson Allen

Allen is as battle-tested as any player in the draft. He played for 4 years as a combo guard in the best conference in the country. He is an athletic shooter (even better free-throw shooter), who can hit jumpers from from all over the floor. He can be streaky at times, but he has the form and range that can translate into the NBA. He also has one of the liveliest “motors” in the draft — he doesn’t tire easily. Allen should also be tall (6-4) enough to guard multiple positions, something the Warriors need in whoever they draft.

The elephant in the room with Allen is his character. There are well-documented moments of Allen tripping opponents and losing his cool. Folks think he’s a dirty player. At times in college, he was a dirty player. Those moments for Allen were a reflection of his intensity, competitiveness and his immaturity. I believe his skills will translate into the NBA, he will mature and he will have a good career.

Like Khyri Thomas, Allen fits into the Warriors system given his shooting ability, athleticism and ability to run the floor. Allen’s reputation could hurt him in the Warriors’ case. Bob Myers will draft players who can immediately plug in with the team’s culture and style. Whether or not the Warriors draft him, I think we’ll look back and realize that Grayson Allen should have gone higher in the draft. If they do draft him, he’ll either be best friends or arch enemies with Draymond Green.

This all said, I’d be shocked if the Warriors draft Allen. He seems like a better fit with the Celtics.