Will he or won't he? That is the question a number of NBA teams are asking themselves when it comes to veteran Ray Allen. It was believed that the guard was preparing to return to the NBA for the second half of the season in hopes of winning one more championship, but he has not been heard from since walking off the court in the NBA Finals. Several teams are lining up their sales pitches to acquire the leader, but Allen is not set on a return just yet.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, Allen is not totally set on coming back to the NBA despite the high amount of interest surrounding him. Windhorst reports that he has spoken to Allen's agent who said his client has not made a definitive decision regarding his future. Allen never formally announced his retirement from the NBA and has been reportedly staying in basketball shape down in Miami, but a comeback is not completely guaranteed at this time.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the frontrunners to sign the guard simply because of LeBron James. The forward has been recruiting Allen ever since bringing on Mike Miller and James Jones to the Cleveland. Allen would be the final veteran piece the Cavaliers feel they need to get to a championship. However, Cleveland's style of play is not the best fit for Allen as they already have a tight rotation. Allen would be left fighting for minutes which may or may not be appealing to the veteran.
The perfect fit for Allen could be the surprise of the season, the Atlanta Hawks. The team has reportedly contacted Allen's camp to gauge his interest in a return and to express their desire to sign him. That could be the better move for Allen as the Hawks thrive off perimeter shooting. He would be a solid tandem with Kyle Korver and Mike Scott who are the strong shooters for the team from long range.
The San Antonio Spurs are also an option for Allen. The veteran squad is looking for a little more depth to work with heading into the final stretch of the year. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have praised Allen enough to know that he is wanted. Allen will only sign with a contending team at this point. That leaves a few solid options should he opt to return after the All-Star break.