Doc Rivers Has Pursued Ray Allen About Joining Clippers
Ray Allen, 39 years old and still considered the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history, is at a stand still over whether or not to continue his playing career. He won himself a title with the Miami Heat in 2013, and speculation points to Allen re-joining LeBron James’ renewed campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Allen also told Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald that his former head coach Doc Rivers has called him about joining the Los Angeles Clippers.
A lot have called. Doc called earlier in the summer. A lot of teams want to be able to get me at the veteran’s minimum. I still have an ego, too. I still have a service to provide, and teams still have to pay me what I feel my presence is worth. I have to take that into consideration, if it’s worth putting my body through what it will take over 82 games.
Rivers coached Allen during the Boston Celtics’ championship run in 2007-08. According to Allen, the coaching situation is just as important for his decision,
It will require a perfect storm scenario for me. I’m in great shape, and I’ll continue to be in great shape, but I don’t want to go to a situation where I don’t understand the rhythm of how a coach coaches. He has to be a great coach, a veteran coach.
So clearly the situation has to be just right for Ray Allen to return. Familiarity and financial fairness seem to be high on his priority list. While he’s expressed his desire to keep playing with LeBron James, Rivers offers a different sense of familiarity with just as promising of a location and situation. Based on their needs, the Cavaliers and the Clippers could sure use Allen’s services.
