NBA Rumors: Even though Ray Allen didn’t play in the NBA last season, he wouldn’t rule out a return in the right situation
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Ray Allen technically hasn’t retired, but don’t bet on him playing in the NBA this upcoming season, either.
In an interview with the Hartford Courant, Allen says that he would entertain a return to the NBA. Of course, reading between the lines, it would have to come at a near-perfect situation and role. Allen didn’t play last season, despite numerous rumors that stated he was eventually going to sign with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That never happened. Instead, he decided to stay a “retired” man in Miami with his family, which, he says, wasn’t too bad.
"[via Hartford Courant, H/T PBT]“I haven’t said anything about that and I won’t officially retire,” Allen said Saturday during a break in his basketball camp for kids at East Granby High. “Because if something came to the table, contractually and situational-ly, I want to be able to take a strong look at it. I don’t want to be that guy that says he’s retiring and then is coming back….“I didn’t miss it,” he said. “I realized how much time I missed not being home with my kids. I probably missed it in the Finals. Watching Cleveland and Golden State play, it just seemed like an epic battle that required a lot of precision on the floor and that’s when I felt, that was probably the only time that I felt like, ‘Man, I should have been out there.’”If he does not play again, Allen is comfortable with the run he’s had, which includes championships with the Celtics and Heat. […] “It would be one thing if I played 10 or 11 years,” he said “But playing 18, I got a lot out of it. I like the feeling of knowing I don’t have to beat myself into the ground.”"
Sounds like Allen is pretty content with the way his career went and ended. He got his championship rings and doesn’t really have much to return to the NBA for. Though, in the right situation, Allen could definitely still help put a team over the top.
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He might’ve helped the Cavaliers last season, but something tells me that Allen won’t be coming back to return for a bench-warmers role. That’s just not him.
A few teams that would make sense, if they could find a clear role for him, would be the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors or even the Miami Heat, if he wants to remain close to his family in Miami and still make a return.
We may or may not have seen the last of Allen in an NBA uniform. He’s happy either way, though. He’s made that clear.