A few days ago, the Los Angeles Clippers traded Jared Dudley and a protected first-round pick in 2017 for Carlos Delfino and Miroslav Raduljica. It eventually became clear that the move was intended to create roster and salary-cap flexibility after the Clippers waived Delfino and Raduljica's non guaranteed contracts via the stretch provision which freed up $3.5 million in cap space.
Trading Dudley wasn't a surprise given his poor outing with the team last season but including a first round pick, given how it has become a premium trade asset int the NBA today, in the package wasn't. The Clippers must be making room for someone special given how they sacrificed a future player in the first round of the draft and that someone might just be the best 3-point shooter in NBA History named Ray Allen, per ESPN's Arash Markazi:
After the moves, the Clippers now have 11 players under contract for next season, two below the league minimum. The Clippers will be bringing in veteran players for workouts, and Clippers coach Doc Rivers has been in contact with Ray Allen, who is in the process of deciding if he wants to return for a 20th season.
Jared Mueller of Fan Sided believes that a Doc Rivers and Ray Allen reunion in the Clippers was bound to happen given their history. Allen and Doc won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and have a comfort level together. And now that the Clippers have moved Jared Dudley and his contract, Muller reveals that the team is no longer capped out and is not as stacked as the Cavaliers, who are also reportedly courting Allen, are on the bench.
And while the Clippers already have capable shooters in Jamal Crawford and J.J Reddick, James Herbert of CBS Sports suggests that Allen can offer the team something that it's roster lacks deeply and that is Championship experience:
If he decides to go to Los Angeles, Allen would provide extra shooting on the wing to complement Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick. He'd also give the Clippers championship experience, something only Jordan Farmar has. Los Angeles has only 11 players under contract after waiving Miroslav Raduljica and Carlos Delfino, and can only offer the veteran minimum.
Many believed that Ray Allen was eventually going to the Cavaliers to play alongside LeBron James because it gave him the best chance of winning another NBA title. Yet, its almost a month now after the Allen-to-Cleveland rumors surfaced and Allen has not committed or signed with the Cavs while the team continues to bring in good player after good player in their roster. The Clippers on the other hand, have just cleared up salary cap space, have two roster spots available, and have Doc Rivers who is contacting Allen for a reunion. With that being said, don't be surprised if Ray Allen ends up wearing a Clippers jersey this coming season.
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