The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking at Ray Allen as their main free agent target and this comes as rumors of a Timofey Mozgov trade with the Denver Nuggets is also of interest to the Cavs and if that doesn't end up happening with Tristan Thompson getting traded, the team may look at another option in free agency with Lou Amundson heading into training camp.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Cavaliers have worked out Amundson and he could be an option for the team at the end of the bench as a reserve player. Amundson is considering a number of teams for training camp according to HoopsHype and he could be a nice fit for the Cavs, as they have been looking for another big man with a defensive presence. The team has been interested in Mozgov, but for now no deal is imminent because the Denver Nuggets have not liked what the Cavs have to offer unless it's something like Tristan Thompson, making the deal unlikely.
The Cavaliers are thrilled to have Kevin Love and while he has a strong offensive game, he has some defensive shortcomings and that is why they are looking for some extra support. Amundson won't jump off the stat sheet, but he does the little things well and he has been an NBA journeyman, playing for the Pacers, Warriors, Wolves, Bulls and Pelicans and while he is 31 years old, he still should be able to contribute.
Mozgov had his best season last year with 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game and since his deal doesn't end until 2016, chances are the Nuggets will not give him up without getting some talent back. The Nuggets like how Mozgov has developed and he is still young and played in all 82 games for the team last year. The Cavaliers head coach David Blatt knows him from playing with the Russian National Team and that is one reason for their interest, but right now Denver is not looking to deal.
The Cavaliers are also looking to sign Ray Allen and right now he is playing hard to get and he is getting chased by a number of teams on the free agent market. According to ESPN.com, the Bulls now are also interested in signing Allen and this comes after teams like the LA Clippers, Cavaliers, Spurs and Wizards have all shown interest.
The Cavaliers are the favorites in the NBA right now for the title with LeBron James and Kevin Love in Cleveland and even if the team doesn't add anyone else, they still likely would be the best in the east. The team has a tough division to deal with and the Chicago Bulls should be much improved as long as Derrick Rose stays healthy. The Bulls also added Pau Gasol and the Pacers also will be a challenge even without Paul George this season.
The Cavaliers have a nice mix of veterans and young players with Mike Miller, James Jones, Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters and now they could add Allen. While he didn't play many minutes last season for Miami, he is still a strong three point shooter and can hit the long range jumper as good as anyone can.
