With a trade supposedly set for Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly are targeting free agents Ray Allen and Shawn Marion to help round out the LeBron James-led team.
Cleveland appears to have the league's new Big Three in James, Love and Kyrie Irving. Now the Cavaliers reportedly are focused on rounding out the roster with additional role players and veterans. The Cavs already have signed veterans Mike Miller and James Jones, both of who were James's former teammates in Miami, and now want to improve in two other areas: shooting and defense.
Cleveland wants to improve their veteran leadership and shooting by signing Allen, who reportedly wants more than the veteran's minimum teams - including the Cavaliers - want to give him.
Jones, who signed with Cleveland Wednesday, told reporters he spoke recently with Allen about playing with the Cavs for a chance at his fourth championship ring.
"We talked about those things that are important to us, which are families, our legacies and our careers," Jones told the Associated Press. "So he has a decision to make. Of course we'd love to have Ray. Hopefully he makes a decision that's best for him, and hopefully it's a decision to continue to play. But as far as where he goes and what he's thinking, I don't know.
"I'm pretty sure he knows the guys that are here up front, and LeBron, would love for him to play with us."
If Allen passes on the Cavaliers for another team or chooses to retire, another option may be veteran guard Chauncey Billups, whom Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reported as interested in Cleveland.
Cleveland's Big Three are known more for their offense than their defense, an area the Cavaliers will want to improve before the season. One target is Marion, whom Yahoo Sports also reported as "leaning strongly" toward signing with Cleveland.
