Bulls Rumors: Ray Allen Would Greatly Bolster Chicago's Title Hopes
Ray Allen has two NBA championship rings and clearly wants a third, if this rumor regarding the list of teams he is choosing from is to be believed, via Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post:
Allen would be a boost for any team on that list, but the Chicago Bulls’ title hopes would greatly improve if they landed the sharp-shooter.
They may have to wait a while longer to make that a reality, as Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, via Dan Woike of the Orange County Register: “I think in two or three weeks, he’ll start thinking about teams. I don’t think right now he is. I think he wants to get through the holidays. ... I think he’s doing the right thing, honestly. He’s earned this right, to look at the teams and say, ‘I fit here,’ and jump if he wants to do that.”
If Allen decided that he fits in Chicago, the rest of the Eastern Conference will officially be on notice.
For one, it would keep Allen out of Cleveland and Washington. Considering the Cavaliers and Wizards may ultimately represent Chicago’s greatest threats in the Eastern Conference, that would be a win in itself.
On the actual floor, the first thing that stands out about Allen is his three-point shooting. This is particularly important for a Chicago team that was only shooting 36.5 percent from behind the three-point arc entering Monday’s game. What’s more, point guard Derrick Rose was at 30.5 percent, while shooting guard Jimmy Butler was at 29.1.
Allen would get plenty of open looks just from how he would theoretically mesh with the Bulls’ personnel already in place. Rose has always been more of a penetrator throughout his career (even if he is shooting 5.5 three-pointers per game this season while he works his way back to full health) and can set Allen up by drawing extra defenders with his quickness and explosive first step.
There is also a strong interior game with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and even Nikola Mirotic in Chicago, although Mirotic has ventured beyond the three-point line this season. Noah and Gasol are both known for their passing from the elbow and post, and any time an extra defender were to cheat down low, they would find Allen spotting up.
Allen has shot 40 percent from downtown over the course of his career and boasts a ridiculous 2,973 made three-point attempts. Somehow, Chicago would find some room in the rotation for that.
Allen also flashed his versatility in Miami last season when he was more than capable of playing some small forward. That is important for Chicago, because the small forward spot is something of a weakness if you prescribe to the theory that Mike Dunleavy, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell don't make up a championship-level group at the position.
McDermott, who was supposed to be the three-point threat for the Bulls this season, is hurt, which opens up even a bigger hole to be filled.
Perhaps the best part of signing Allen in terms of championship hopes for Chicago, though, is that it would take away some of the minutes burden on Butler’s shoulders. He is the team’s best perimeter defender and is asked to play 40 minutes per game all while containing the opponent’s best player on the other end.
If and when the Bulls are locked up in a playoff series with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors or Washington Wizards, Butler will be the one asked to guard LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal. The only way he will be able to do that effectively is by staying healthy and fresh through June.
Allen could spell Butler for extended stretches and keep No. 21 just a bit fresher before the playoffs.
Allen also brings a championship pedigree to the table, which should not be overlooked for a Chicago squad largely made up of players who have come close but never reached the NBA mountain top. Noah, Rose, Gibson and Butler, among others, have yet to win a ring, and adding a veteran leader like Allen could help in the huddle and locker room in the tense playoff moments that are sure to come.
Allen will not shrink away from the spotlight in the most important games. Now the question is whether those important games will come with Chicago or some other team.
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