Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 NBA free agents to target with the mid-level exception

Tony Allen

If it seems like the Cavs only have luck signing players in there 30s these days, it’s because these veteran players are all they can afford.

Hopefully Allen falls into the category of a player looking for a ring, and sees a year with LeBron James as his chance to win another title.

Even though he’ll be 36 this season, Allen brings a lot to the table. ESPN ranked 99 shooting guards and Allen was No. 2 in defensive real plus minus. For his efforts, Allen was named All-NBA second defensive team.

No one’s going to stop Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson in the NBA Finals, but at the very least, Allen can make them work harder.

Offensively, he won’t bring much to the table, but he doesn’t have to on a team whose firepower is supplied by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

Beale Street Bears listed the Cavaliers as the No. 1 destination for Allen.

Author Nathan Chester wrote:

"Tony Allen would help alleviate Cleveland’s struggles on the defensive end. Cleveland was 22nd in defensive efficiency this past season and containing dribble pentetration was a major source of their issues. They didn’t have the slightest chance of slowing down the Warriors in the Finals. The Cavs will never be elite defensively, but Tony can help make them better in these areas."

The key with Allen is getting him to take the mid-level exception.

He still possesses an elite attribute in that he can defend. Plus, he’s probably looking for one last pay day as his NBA career enters its final stretch.

But if the three-year deal he’s probably seeking isn’t out there, he’d be the perfect addition for the Cavaliers.