The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in signing free agent Emeka Okafor, but reportedly will have to wait until later in the season. It could be a similar case with free agent Ray Allen.
It's no secret Cleveland needs a rim-protector, but the Eastern Conference favorite will likely have to wait until midseason if they hope to bring in Okafor.
"Last I heard, a number of teams had reached out to Okafor's camp to express interest but it sounds like he won't be available for another few weeks since he's reportedly still dealing with some neck issues," Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders wrote Wednesday night. "He could be someone that joins a team after the start of the season."
Kennedy's report falls in line with a number of previous reports, all of which indicated Okafor wouldn't be ready by the start of the season. He missed all of last season recovering from neck surgery, and it's uncertain whether he's yet been cleared for contact practice.
The Miami Heat are also reportedly interested in signing Okafor.
Cleveland had been eying Greg Oden prior to his arrest for battery. The Cavaliers reportedly are interested in trading for Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, but the team would have a better chance of acquiring his teammate, center JaVale Mcgee.
Allen, another target of the Cavaliers, is also unlikely to sign with the team any time soon. While Allen isn't dealing with an injury, it's believed he wants to sign after training camp - or even later in the season - to limit the wear-and-tear on his body and keep him healthy for a playoff run.
Cleveland has competition for Allen, though. The San Antonio Spurs, the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers all have reached out to Allen's agent, according to various reports. While the three teams all have something - San Antonio with Gregg Popovich, Washington with Paul Pierce and Los Angeles with coach Doc Rivers - to entice Allen, most believe the veteran will decide to join ex-Heat teammate LeBron James in Cleveland.
