Ray Allen has been biding his time, not playing yet not really retired, waiting for the right call to come.
That call could come soon.
As the Washington Wizards vie for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Allen would be a “natural” fit to back up starting shooting guard Bradley Beal, CSN Washington’s J. Michael reported Friday. Although Allen is said to be considering retirement, the NBA’s all-time 3-point king “is not out of the picture,” according to Michael.
“Until Allen says, ‘I’m retired’ or ‘No, thanks,’ the Wizards will continue to chase him,” Michael writes. “The reason: Even though they have shooters in Martell Webster and Rasual Butler coming off the bench, they’re natural small forwards. Allen is a natural to back up … Beal.”
Butler is doing this new thing this season where he just doesn’t miss threes — he’s shooting a career-high 49 percent from beyond the arc — but he’s a career 36 percent shooter from long range, while Allen has never shot worse than 35 percent from deep in any season of his career. So far, the Wizards have been getting by with smoke and mirrors at the backup two spot, and while it’s been adequate, no team with NBA Finals ambitions should settle for “adequate.”
Thumbnail photo via Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports Images
