The Nets and center Jarrett Allen were unable to reach a rookie-scale contract extension, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports tweets. Allen will thus become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
Allen’s qualifying offer next offseason, which would allow the Nets to match any offer sheet, is $5,661,538.
Allen, who will make approximately $3.9M this season, has established himself as one of the top young centers in the league. He has started regularly the past two seasons after being a part-time starter as a rookie.
Last season, he averaged 11.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 70 regular-season games, including 64 starts.
The Nets are projected to be a taxpaying team this season and next year and added to the payroll this offseason by re-signing Joe Harris to a four-year contract. They also picked up their option for the 2021-22 season on young guard Landry Shamet. Giving Allen an extension would have significantly increased their tax bill for next season.
Allen would be an attractive trade piece if Brooklyn went in that direction as part of a package for another superstar such as James Harden.
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