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So far, the Cleveland Cavaliers have had a relatively quiet free agency. That could change in the near future.
As first reported by ESPN, former Heat and Celtics guard Ray Allen is planning a comeback after sitting out the last two season. Additionally, Allen is only interested in playing for four teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs.
For the Cavs, the who reportedly are interested, the one issue is that LeBron James - who played with Allen in Miami won’t recruit Allen per Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com:
LeBron James and Ray Allen are extremely close, but as of now I'm told the four-time MVP has not been recruiting his former teammate.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 6, 2016
Allen, who will turn 41 on July 20, is one the best shooters in the NBA history. He averaged 9.6 points per game during his final season with the Heat where his one role was to shoot. If he were to play for the Cavs or any other team, that would likely be his only role.
For his career, Allen is a 40 percent shooter from three-point range and has won two NBA titles. He picked up his first in 2008 with the Boston Celtics and won his second with the Heat in 2013. In the 2013 Finals against the Spurs, he kept the Heat alive in Game 6 by making a game-tying three-pointer with 5.2 seconds left to force overtime. The Heat went on to win Game 6 and then won the title in Game 7.
Allen, though, may not be a great fit with the Cavs. They already have a decent amount of shooters - especially if they retain J.R. Smith - and Allen isn’t a good defender at this point. He might be useful in small doses, but it’s hard to see him playing a big role or even a role as big as the one he played with the Heat.
Still, the Cavs could do worse than signing Allen to a minimum deal.