The Cleveland Cavaliers still have one spot left in their roster and reports indicated that they are considering several players for that remaining slot in the hope of improving their title chances this season.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is still making push to convince former Miami Heat teammate Ray Allen to join him in Cleveland for a possible title run this season.
James, who decided to return to Cleveland in the offseason after spending four years in South Beach, reportedly met with Allen during his recent visit to Miami.
The four-time Most Valuable Player returned to Miami earlier this month as part of his rehabilitation from left knee and lower back strain. But aside from resting his ailing back and knee in a more favorable weather in Miami, James also took the opportunity to talk to Allen, who is still undecided about his future.
Allen, who averaged 9.6 points to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in Miami last season, is considering playing again for a possible title chase this season, but the 39-year-old shooting guard is also thinking about ending his basketball career for good.
Aside from James, sources also indicated that Cavaliers veterans James Jones and Mike Miller are also secretly recruiting Allen, who is the league's all-time leader in three-pointers. Jones and Miller also played alongside Allen in Miami, where they won NBA titles - something they want to achieve again in Cleveland.
Allen also vacationed with James and Jones last summer in the Bahamas together with their family. Allen also has ties with Cavaliers assistant coach Tyronn Lue, who was coach Doc Rivers' assistant when the sharp-shooting guard was still playing for the Boston Celtics.
Several teams have expressed interest in signing Allen since the season started, including the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers, but Allen declined to commit to these teams, saying that he is not ready to decide until late January or mid February.
Earlier this week, Allen, who holds a career average of 18.9 points to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists, told the Sun-Sentinel that he needs to stay in shape, hinting that he might eventually decide to play again this season.
The Cavaliers have been very busy tweaking their roster this month. They acquired J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in a three-team deal with the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. They also traded for towering center Timofey Mozgov, sending two protected first round picks to the Denver Nuggets.
