With ten games gone by in the NBA season, we are beginning to get an idea of which direction each team is heading and where each could look to improve. Adding the right player in the right system can be the difference between a deep playoff run or a first-round exit. To a handful of contenders, Ray Allen could very well be that final piece.
It’s no secret that if Ray Allen is in fact to play what will most likely be his final season, he will be in search of a third NBA championship ring to cap off his already storied, Hall of Fame worthy career. One of the main sub plots from this past offseason was of course which team would be able to land the 10-time All-Star. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether Allen will continue on for another year or simply retire, as Allen himself is yet to confirm his exact intentions publicly. But many feel that Allen will not announce his retirement as of yet due to his desire to play a role in one more championship run. Allen is currently 39 years old, but has shown that he is still a very capable player off the bench and can add veteran leadership, as well as clutch shooting. We all remember Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, don’t we?
Averaging 9.6 points per game in a reduced role last season for the Heat, there is still something left in the tank to offer teams chasing that elusive title. Although less than 10 points per game does not look like a significant contribution at first glance, it’s what Ray brings as a complete package in terms of veteran leadership and court presence that makes him such a key player. His expert perimeter shooting creates open lanes, spacing the floor for teammates to take advantage of. Allen’s off ball movement, running off screens, can still run opposing defenders in to the ground, especially in late game situations.
Let’s look at three teams with a realistic shot at signing the 18-year veteran.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
The Cavs lack depth in the backcourt with Irving, Waiters, and Dellevadova sharing majority of the minutes. There's a lot of inexperience in those three names. Recently, Coach David Blatt has given the starting two guard role to Shawn Marion, predominantly a defensive forward and no real perimeter threat, as he continues to utilize Dion Waiters as the sixth man. This move will not be ideal long term for the Cavs. Marion has lost a lot of the explosiveness that used to get him to the rim and his jump shot is not a reliable one. Defenders will simply collapse towards the paint on dribble drives, and this will leave a lot less room down low for LeBron or Love to operate. A combination of Marion’s defense, Waiters' scoring and athletic ability mixed with Ray Allen could certainly be an interesting dynamic and add another dimension to the team. The more shooters giving LeBron James room to work the better. We have seen it work to great success in South Beach, and it could certainly be replicated, albeit to a lesser extent in Cleveland. Allen could bring the spark off the bench if Waiters shot is not falling and also create much easier looks for teammates.
Los Angeles Clippers:
J.J Redick and Jamal Crawford are too streaky to be relied on for 30-plus minutes at a time night in, night out. If their shot isn’t falling then you’re in for a rough night, and in the case of Crawford, his trigger happy style can see him shoot the Clippers out of games. When Crawford and Redick struggle, it leaves a lot on the shoulders of Blake and CP3 to carry the team in scoring and often times that just doesn't work out too good for the team. Unfortunately, Crawford and Redick are the only two solid options available at the shooting guard spot that can knock down the outside shots during crunch time. With Doc Rivers at the helm, Redick has basically played the same role Allen did for Doc in Boston. On nights where Redick and Crawford are unable to get their shot going, (in the case of Redick this season, a lot, although it is still early) Allen could certainly step in for a few key plays in the dying minutes. The thought of Chris Paul collapsing the defense and dishing to Ray Allen on a catch and shoot is too good to pass up. Much like the Cavs, there isn’t much depth to the Clippers either.
Golden State Warriors:
This could just be this writer's opinion, but Ray Allen on this team seems like, not only a perfect fit, but also the most exciting. Allen could certainly provide a lot of guidance to a very talented but still developing backcourt as well as knock down a few easy three pointers every game while he’s at it. The thought of Steph Curry, Thompson, and Allen on the same floor is terrifying and could really take Golden State to the next level in terms of being a legitimate title threat. With a bench of Barbosa, Iguodala, Livingston, and the addition of Allen, you can’t get much deeper than that in terms of guards. Steve Kerr could also run a lot of the same plays he does for his two starters but instead slot in Allen’s name while they rest. The greatest shooter of all time and the greatest shooter in the game today on the same team, the only problem you would face is who do you let take the last shot? That’s a pretty good problem to have.
It's impossible to pin point exactly where Ray Allen will sign but by January, we should have the answer. This will be his fifth and final NBA team after having runs with Milwaukee, Seattle, Boston, and Miami. Whether or not one of those three teams can land Ray Allen remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ray Ray in an NBA uniform come June 2015 when it matters most once again.