The Cleveland Cavaliers are working on the Kevin Love trade and now Shawn Marion and Ray Allen are the top free agent targets for the team, as reports have Marion meeting with the Cavs and reports also have the Indiana Pacers interested in Marion to help replace Paul George and either move would be a big addition for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as they look to win a championship.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Cavaliers are meeting with Marion this week and are recruiting him to join up with James and Irving. Ray Allen has said that he is contemplating what to do next and his choices look to be between retirement and the Cavaliers and not going back to the Miami Heat. Marion is getting up there in age, but he is still a productive player and he could be a very solid addition to the lineup for the Cavs.
Reports from ESPN and Pro Basketball Talk have the Pacers interested in talking to Marion, as they are looking for ways to help make up for the Paul George injury. PBT reported that the team is looking at Gary Forbes and MarShon Brooks as free agent options and now the team can look at Marion. The Cavaliers have the inside edge since Dallas can only offer Marion $2.7 million after he played 31 minutes per game last season and that could lead to him leaving for Cleveland or Indiana.
Cleveland already has plenty of depth with the moves they have made, while the Pacers lost Lance Stephenson and now George is out with the devastating injury suffered in the USA basketball scrimmage. George had successful surgery, but he will be out for the season and that is a big hit for a Pacers team that is looking to win a championship. Marion said that he wants to win a ring and that likely won't be in Indiana this year and that means Cleveland could be the spot for him.
Last season Marion averaged over 10 points and shot 35 percent from long range and while he is 36, he still can be a productive player for whoever signs him. The Cavaliers are basically a done deal with the Kevin Love trade and adding Marion could bring some nice depth to the bench behind Love and Anderson Varejao. The Cavs are giving up Andree Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, but they are getting back a superstar player in Love.
The Pacers need some help after what happened with Paul George and that means any idea of a trade with Roy Hibbert is likely off the table unless they get a star in return. George will be out for a year and this comes as the Pacers were expecting to be in contention for a championship and now that all could be on the wayside after what happened to George, although he did get a good prognosis about coming back.