Free-agent shooting guard Ray Allen is reportedly close to make his return for his 19th NBA season. According to league sources, the NBA's All-Time three-point shooter is drawing interest from at least seven teams, with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards emerging as the favorites to land the service of the All-Star.
Allen, who won championship with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, is expected to come out of his hiatus at some time after the All-Star break to continue his pursuit for a third NBA title.
Averaging 18.9 points on 45 percent field goal shooting and 40 percent beyond the three-point line, the 39-year old Allen would provide teams with efficient three-point shooting, leadership and clutch shots down the stretch.
The Cavaliers have been considered favorites to land the service of the veteran shooter since the start of free-agency, but a source close to situation indicated the team is slowly becoming unattractive destination primarily because of their slow start.
"The Cavs, Wizards, Bulls and Spurs are among a group of seven teams that maintain interest in signing free agent Ray Allen, tweets Chris Broussard of ESPN.com," according to Hoops Rumors.
"Allen has been spending time in Miami and continuing to stay in shape, Broussard adds, but while it's not entirely clear whether the Heat are one of those seven, the 39-year-old sharpshooter has reportedly ruled out a return to the franchise with which he's spent the past two seasons"
The Cavs currently have 15 men on their roster, but they can easily dispose one of their unguaranteed contracts to make room for Allen. The Bulls and Wizards have a roster spot open, while the Spurs can put a more lucrative offer on the table thanks to a $3.228MM left of the mid-level exception used to re-sign Aaron Bynes.
"The Spurs have the most flexibility to pay Allen among the teams Broussard lists, since San Antonio still has a $3.228MM slice of its mid-level exception left after using part of it to re-sign Aron Baynes. The Spurs would nonetheless need to unload a player on a fully guaranteed contract to sign Allen," according to Hoops Rumors.
