The NBA free agent market is getting mighty thin and Ray Allen is the top name left out there and while he is being recruited to join LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is also being wooed by the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat and he said that he is no rush to make a decision, although it's for certain that Allen will not be retiring.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Allen is getting chased by a number of teams and LeBron is trying to get him to come to Cleveland and this comes after the two played together in Miami. The Clippers are also another strong option, as that would reunite Allen with his coach in Doc Rivers. The Wizards signed former teammate Paul Pierce and they are a young team on the up and up with John Wall and Bradley Beal after making it to the playoffs last season.
Allen wants to win a title though, so that likely leaves Washington out, but another team in the San Antonio Spurs could be the one to get him. As a betting man, the favorites are in Cleveland, but the Spurs are a wild card and a likely option, as Allen could be perfect for Gregg Popovich. Allen still can shoot threes with the best of them and he went for nearly 10 points per game last season in limited minutes and he once again was very good from long range. Allen is the top name left on the market and if he wants to win a title, he has a few contenders he could join up with.
Allen played with James in Miami and he previously played for Doc Rivers in Boston before he moved out to LA with the Clippers. Pro Basketball Talk writes that the Spurs are very interested and he could be a perfect fit for that team as a savvy veteran that can knock down the long ball. Marc Stein from ESPN writes that the Spurs are also interested in Mexico's Gustavo Ayon and he could be an addition if Allen takes too long or signs elsewhere. Allen is likely a bench player for any of these teams, but he could make a major impact.
The Cavs were one of the first teams to go hard at Allen along with the Miami Heat and now at least four teams are hoping for the chance to sign Allen. The Wizards would have Allen coming off the bench and he would be behind Glen Rise Jr, while some of the other teams could have more room for him to play. The Spurs seem like an ideal fit along with the Cavaliers and Clippers, while the Wizards look like a long shot, but can't knock them for trying. Allen is the top name left on the market and the only other real option for teams is Jordan Crawford and he has not had too much interest on the market yet.
Miami has made a number of free agent moves this offseason to help with the loss of James, including signing Deng, as he has the chance to make up some of that production. The team also added Josh McRoberts as well as Danny Granger to the mix with Williams and Shabazz Napier. The Heat also signed their own players back with Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen and they are expected to be a factor in the east this year despite losing James.
