Cleveland Cavaliers: Could They Use Ray Allen?

Ray Allen recently came out and told the media that he will make a decision concerning which team he wants to play for after the All-Star break. Allen’s list has come down to three teams, those being Golden State, Atlanta and none other than our beloved Cleveland Cavaliers.

Golden State might be the best team in the league right now (I hear you, Hawks fans), but they do reside in the West and it’s far more likely that Allen would be able to be part of a title run if he chooses one of the two East squads.

More from Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs clearly are hopeful that the two-time champion will choose them, since they’ve had a roster spot open and waiting for a while now. Allen is friends with LeBron James, Mike Miller and James Jones from their time together during the last two seasons as a part of the Miami Heat.

But the question remains: could the Cavs use Jesus Shuttlesworth?

Well, it’s rather silly to say that a team couldn’t use him at all. He brings championship experience, a relentless work ethic, three-point sharpshooting and an uncanny ability to hit the biggest shots in the biggest moments.

But Allen is also 39 years old and he hasn’t played for half a season. He’d have less time to get into a groove and integrate himself with the club. For a team like Cleveland, who only now has seemed to start to figure things out, this might end up just being another wrench in the machine.

Indeed, his role on the team is the biggest concern. Allen has stated that he wants to be on a club that uses him and that his potential role for the teams previously mentioned will be a deciding factor.

Well, the Cavs already have four shooting guards on the roster as well as four small forwards. Allen, as a shooting guard, might not see as significant a role as he wants. Sure, Joe Harris doesn’t play much, but J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova (when he’s not playing backup point guard) and Iman Shumpert all take up important minutes that are not likely to be changed.

The Cavs also have their own Allen-type player already in Miller. And he might be even better since he has no problem with his current role on the team and will be ready to perform when called upon. At this point in their respective careers, Allen and Miller contribute the same sort of way. That isn’t to say Miller’s the better player, of course, because he probably isn’t.

But he is already a full-fledged part of the team and LeBron loves him. He isn’t going anywhere.

In reality the Cavs require attention at the backup point guard spot as well as the backup center spot. Dellavedova has served as a backup to Kyrie, though he’s not truly a point guard and the Cavs would be better served to find one who can at least help run the show, make good passes and open shots when Irving takes a rest.

It isn’t really that much to ask, since LeBron can handle most other point guard duties while Kyrie’s off the floor.

Having another big would probably benefit the Cavs most, though we’ve already seen the trouble they went to to acquire Timofey Mozgov.

Tristan Thompson has done a great job switching between the backup power forward spot (his natural position) and the backup center spot, but he could always use another body around to help him with the absence of Anderson Varejao hanging over the team.

Ray Allen’s still a productive player if last season’s numbers have anything to say about it. He averaged 9.6 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field, 37.5 percent shooting from downtown and 90.5 percent shooting from the free throw line with Miami. But he also played 26.5 minutes a night with that team. That’s not going to happen for him in Cleveland.

So, could the Cavaliers use Allen? The ideal answer is sure, but for that to be the case Allen would need to be rooted to the bench for most of the season, coming into games only when called upon to (presumably) hit big shots or when the Cavs need extra spacing.

It’s a nice idea and he’s a big name, but the realistic answer is simply that Cleveland doesn’t need him. They’re deep enough at that spot already and he just wouldn’t get the role with the team he wants.

It’s very possible that it could happen anyway, and that Allen could end up on the squad. But Allen is an all-time great who rightfully wants to be in control of his own destiny in his waning years as a player; and to be frank, what he desires won’t be found in Cleveland.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1970s

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers