Clippers Rumors: Ray Allen considering return, eyeing L.A.

Ray Allen is reportedly thinking about making an NBA comeback after the formation of Kevin Durant’s Golden State Warriors, and may be considering the Los Angeles Clippers, too.

Well, this isn’t the kind of rumor you would expect to discuss in 2016. After not playing a single NBA game since the 2013-14 season, Ray Allen is reportedly considering a return from his semi-retirement after the formation of the Golden State Warriors super team. It’s almost too perfect that a legendary three-point shooter would make a comeback to join the greatest shooting team of all time after they added Kevin Durant, but Allen is considering other teams, too. That includes the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, Allen will consider the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Clippers if he decides to make his unexpected return.

Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com has confirmed the report, going further by stating that Allen has reached out to the Cavs and the two parties have mutual interest. Haynes also added that Allen will listen to the Clippers if they’re interested.

First off, it goes withouts saying that Allen’s obvious first choice will be the Warriors. Besides the fact that they’re clearly the best team in the NBA now, Allen’s representatives have only reached out to teams after Durant’s decision to join the Warriors, who seem to be the only team he’s reached out too so far.

To take a potential Warriors-Allen partnership even further, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders has reported that Golden State have been pushing for Allen’s comeback for some time and that will likely continue this summer.

If you’re Ray Allen, coming to a team that will provide you more open looks than any team you could pick out from NBA history, there’s clearly incentive to come back. They have enough defensive talent and depth to cover for him at that end of the floor, and his shooting stroke could only benefit from so much space in the corners as defenses huddle to the Splash Brothers and Durant.

While Golden State may be interested for the sake of his shooting and the general nostalgic narrative that would seem so surreal and so 2016 Warriors, Allen is almost 41 years old, and playing through an entire season is no small feat, even if you’re playing 10 minutes or less a night.

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While they’re obviously still well within their playing days, we’ve already Zaza Pachulia ($2.9 million) and David West ($1.5 million) take minimum deals to play for the Warriors, and everyone who wants a championship (so, everyone) will want to join in.

If there’s one team good enough to tempt Ray Allen back into the NBA for what could be a relatively easy run towards a ring, it’s these Warriors.

As for the Clippers, it’s unclear if they’d even want Allen. They have their primary backup guards set with Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford, although maybe Doc Rivers could find a soft spot in his heart to bring back an All-Star he won his championship with in 2008, completing an old Celtics trio if Paul Pierce doesn’t retire.

However, at almost 41, two years removed from the league and with an all-offense skill set at that, he isn’t what the Clippers need, despite his marksmanship.

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Seeing as the Clippers can only escape the Western Conference past those Warriors, it’s incredibly hard to see Allen choosing them for what would be his final year and final shot at his third ring.