So the latest news on Ray Allen is that he will make a decision on which team he wants to play for after the all star break, and if he does play, would most likely go to Atlanta or Cleveland (at least according to Lebron fan boy Brian Windhorst).
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12300217/veteran-ray-allen-make-decision-nba-future-all-star-weekend
Does anyone else continue to lose respect for Allen each year? I was trying to think of other hall of fame players that finished their career this way. I know Shaq comes to mind because he really bounced around at the ends of his career (sun, cavs, celtics in last 3 seasons), however even he didn't sit out half a season and then try to sign with a team that had the best record.
I can remember Karl Malone toyed with the idea of playing half a season with his hometown spurs, but ultimately didn't. Can anyone else remember a hall of fame player doing this routine?
Obviously, he can do whatever he wants with his career. I just don't really get the point or thought process. For what it is worth, I do think he would help the Hawks because thabo is injured, but is probably a poor use of a roster spot for the Cavs. They already have essentially 3 wasted roster spots on Lebron's friends that like to shoot 3's (James Jones, Miller and Marion). Allen would be really redundant and would prevent them from signing a backup big or insurance if either Mosgav or Thompson were to have any sort of injury.
It's not much different from "Big Shot Bob" Horry, and in Ray Allen's case, why wouldn't he do this? If all he wants is championships than good for him.
There are some pretty big differences.
1) Horry was never even an all star, he went from a starter to a reserve over the course of his career, but had a pretty natural career act
2) As best I can remember, Horry never sat out half a season and decided to sign with the best team after the all star break. He chose contending teams before the season, but that is pretty common for players, particularly at the end of their career.
3) Horry played for 4 teams in his entire career, and one of them was for a half a season where he did not fit in under danny ainge. If allen signs with someone it will be his 5th team and 3rd in the last 3. Again this is not amazingly unique for a role player, but for an all star/hall of famer it is.
None of this really matters in the big scheme of things, just think it is kind of pathetic that Ray Allen has gone in a lot of people's eyes from a consummate professional to a NBA vagabond chasing rings.
