Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge believed veteran shooting guard Ray Allen will still play for this coming season, although he may wait until after the All-Star break before deciding which team he will be joining with, the Celtics executive said in an interview with a local radio show in Boston on Saturday.
Ainge, who acquired Allen in a blockbuster trade to form the core of the championship-winning Celtics in 2007, really thinks the 39-year old Allen will still return for another season.
There have been speculations that Allen is all set to join LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers next week upon the team's return from an exhibition match with his former team, the Miami Heat, in Brazil this weekend.
However, the Celtics head for basketball operations believed Allen will not make his decision until February, more so the Cavs are not the guaranteed landing spot for the legendary shooter.
"He may wait until All-Star break or January. And just see what teams are playing well, which teams are the healthiest and which team that he thinks that he might fit in, just in the style of play. With new coaches at some different places, he may just want to see how it unfolds before he makes a decision," Ainge said of Allen's possible return in an interview on 98.5 Sports Hub via the Score.
Allen averaged 9.6 points on 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc. After helping the Heat win its second straight title in 2013, he and the Heat again made it into the finals for the fourth straight time, but were schooled by also returning NBA finalist San Antonio Spurs in five games in June.
Ironically, the Spurs also expressed interest in acquiring Allen this offseason, along with the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls.
