The Cleveland Cavaliers have made tremendous additions to their team this week. While the moves weren’t perfect, how many are, the team is better for it. Could Ray Allen be next? There have been rumors of Allen playing with LeBron James this season as …
The Cleveland Cavaliers have made tremendous additions to their team this week. While the moves weren’t perfect, how many are, the team is better for it. Could Ray Allen be next? There have been rumors of Allen playing with LeBron James this season as early as right after the completion of the NBA Finals last year.
When the Cavs signed James this summer it was all but assumed that Allen would sign shortly behind. Instead we continued to hear that multiple teams, including the LA Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and yes the Cleveland Cavaliers, were interested in Allen if he decided to return this season.
The latest rumor, months old at this point, was that Ray Allen would make his decision in February and that the Cavaliers were still in the lead. February is fast approaching and the Cavs just happen to have an open roster spot after waiving A.J. Price.
So will the Cavaliers finally end their long term pursuit of Allen by signing the veteran sharpshooter? They ended their long desired pursuit of Timofey Mozgov by acquiring him in a trade with the Nuggets. Is it safe to say that they are still interested in Allen as they reportedly were earlier in the season?
GM David Griffin has made it clear that he values fit above almost anything else. Ray Allen’s fit with the Cavs could be unique. He is a long term veteran with a great shooting prowess. His role would be clearly defined with the Cavs: Stand in the corner and knock down up jumpers. He has been very talented at such for his career.
Yet do the Cavaliers need someone of Allen’s talent to help the fit of their team?
The Cavs have shooting with Kevin Love, James Jones, Mike Miller, Kyrie Irving and the recently acquired J.R. Smith, at least that is what both Griffin and head coach David Blatt noted about the Cavs new 6th man. They added defense with Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, to go along with good defenders LeBron James, Shawn Marion and Tristan Thompson. They have rebounding all over the place.
So where would Allen fit? Would his veteran presence do anything more than James, Jones, Miller and Marion hasn’t or won’t? Could he displace Jones, Miller or Smith as an off the bench shooter?
Or is it Matthew Dellavedova who Ray Allen could impact? Delly is the Cavs only backup point guard but has struggled mightily on the offensive side of the ball since his return from a knee injury. On the season Delly is shooting a paltry 31% from the field, though his 3 point shooting is a respectable 39%.
With James hurt, when Irving is forced to the bench Dellavedova is responsible as the primary ball handler. Sometimes he has trouble getting the Cavs even started into their offense much less setting up his teammates. On the other hand he tends to make sure passes to find open players when the ball is moving, is only taking two 2 point shots a game (compared to three 3 pointers) and can play solid, aggressive defense on the ball.
Yet the role that Delly plays on the team seems like it will be unnecessary when everyone gets healthy. Irving, James and Smith are all likely to take care of the ball handling duties while Shumpert will take on the role of the perimeter defender. If Allen is signed he can upgrade the shooting and continue the smart passing when the ball is moving that Dellavedova has given the Cavs.
Yet would there be enough minutes for Allen? Could the Cavs find another point guard to take the open roster spot and compete with Dellavedova for minutes? Would Ray even be willing to come after the team added Shumpert and Smith to the wing rotation?
A ton of questions without a ton of answers and they all may be moot anyways. Allen could decide to retire or could choose another team. It is unlikely that the Cavs would turn him down if he offered his services but is he the right fit? That is for David Griffin to figure out.
