Free agent for hire Ray Allen announced on Wednesday that he would sit out the 2014-15 NBA season.
Allen, a 10-time NBA All Star has not logged a minute on the floor since the 2014 NBA Finals in June while a member of the Miami Heat.
In a statement released by his agent, Allen said:
Over the past several months, I have taken a lot of time to deliberate what is best for me. I’ve ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I’m going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the upcoming off-season, to reassess my situation, spend time with my family and determine if I will play in the 2015-16 season.
Allen did not rule out a return, but also did not indicate that he was leaning toward retirement. The Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks sought out the sharpshooter’s services.
Having won two championships with the Miami Heat, it was widely speculated that Allen would join the Cleveland Cavaliers and team up with his friend and former teammate, LeBron James.
Cavaliers head coach David Blatt weighed in on Allen’s decision before Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. “We were concerned with the task at hand and Ray was going through his own process of deciding what he wanted to do,” said Blatt.
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“And I sort of never really tried to look at it at something that was a definitive option. Because it really wasn’t ever clear if he was going to play at all. So no (it’s not disappointing), but I certainly respect the man’s right to make the kind of decision that’s best for him and his family when and if he makes it.”
Allen, 39, was selected fifth by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA Draft. He’s atop the all-time list in made three-pointers at 2,973 and holds career averages of 18.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 3.4 APG.
