NBA Trade Rumors: Top Stories Dominating Rumor Mill
Many NBA contenders are still hoping that Ray Allen will decide to play some portion of the year and that their team will be the one he chooses. Unfortunately for hopefuls, the latest rumors imply Jesus Shuttlesworth is leaning more toward retirement, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer has won two NBA championships, scored 24,505 points in his career and sank 2,973 three-pointers.
He has nothing else to prove on a basketball court. Allen is married with four sons, and Windhorst reports in a video interview that spending time with family is chief among Allen's concerns.
With so much time having passed, it's becoming more believable that Allen will simply walk away from the game. If nothing has happened by the All-Star break, a return from Allen would appear to be all but dead.
Cleveland in Disarray
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the teams said to be interested in Allen. If recent rumors about the team are true, Cleveland might need a veteran presence like Allen's to right the ship.
Per Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com, there's growing concern that rookie head coach David Blatt may be losing his team already. Cleveland is 19-14, and superstar LeBron James is out with a strained back and knee, per SportsCenter on Twitter.
The Cavs' core of James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love has failed to jell as quickly as some may have hoped, and Blatt doesn't seem to know what buttons to push with this group to get it to respond. Windhorst and Stein write:
"There is a growing level of worry within the Cleveland Cavaliers organization about first-year coach David Blatt and his ability to reach the team, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that there is rising concern in team circles about the level of response that Blatt is getting on the floor.
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Coaching James and a talented group is not an easy thing, especially early on. The expectations are often unrealistic, and evaluators are impatient.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra found that out when his Big Three got together in 2010. The Heat with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh began their first season together playing .500 basketball through the first 18 games. Spoelstra was able to weather the storm, earn respect and lead the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances.
It remains to be seen whether Blatt will have the resiliency and resourcefulness to stay the course and turn the Cavs around.
Heat Like Blatche
Speaking of Miami, the Heat were reportedly interested in signing Josh Smith before he inked with the Houston Rockets just before the new year, per Stein.
With Bosh missing time with injury this season, the Heat have been thin in the frontcourt. Blatche could offer some versatility and experience.
The 28-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 73 appearances for the Brooklyn Nets last season. The Heat would love to get similar production from Blatche if he were to sign with them.
Blatche is currently playing in China and seemingly enjoying his time there. This tweet from ssssssssshuozi, a CBA TV correspondent, highlighted a recent solid performance for Xinjiang and high praise from the club's head coach.
We'll see if an NBA opportunity is enough to lure Blatche back to the states.
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