It seems like a foregone conclusion to many that free agent Ray Allen will inevitably end joining LeBron James in Cleveland.
Allen’s former boss, however, expects the former Boston Celtics star to do his due diligence before signing anywhere.
“He may wait until All-Star break or January even,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Thursday on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich.” “And just see what teams are playing well, which teams are the healthiest and which team that he thinks that he might fit in, just in the style of play. With new coaches at some different places, he may just want to see how it unfolds before he makes a decision.”
Things can change quickly over the course of a season, but the most obvious landing spot for Allen is the new Land of LeBron, where he would be able to rejoin James on a revamped Cavaliers squad that also added All-Star big man Kevin Love over the summer.
“It wouldn’t surprise me (if Allen signs with the Cavs),” Ainge said. “Ray can really help them. But I anticipate that Ray will wait and see the landscape of the NBA. I just think he might wait and see how everybody’s clicking. There’s a handful of teams that would love to have Ray on their team right now that are trying to win a championship.”
Ainge also doesn’t subscribe to the notion that veteran players should be looked down upon for chasing one last ring.
“I don’t blame a player like Ray, right now, for wanting to find a perfect fit for him as he finishes his career,” Ainge said.
Photo via Tony Dejak/Associated Press
