The NBA trade deadline brought plenty of surprises, but one move that was expected was the waiving of shooting guard Tony Allen, which the Chicago Bulls made official today, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.
The defensive specialist will be able to be claimed for waivers by any team other than the Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans, whom he started the season with.
According to ESPN Insider Bobby Marks, there are 15 teams with a current open roster spot:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers (two open spots)
- Chicago Bulls
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- L.A. Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Portland Trail Blazers (two open spots)
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards (two open spots)
Thirteen of these teams are a potential landing spot for the six-time All-NBA Defensive Team mention, who has put up the worst averages of his NBA career, playing in extra limited minutes (12.4 minutes per game).
Allen is putting up a mere 4.7 points and 2.1 rebounds, thanks to his reduced role, but the 36-year-old had one of his best seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016-17, averaging 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
At his age, dynamism won't be one of his strong suits — as most teams won't try to teach an old dog new tricks — but the energy and defensive prowess still remain, as Allen has always been willing to take on the biggest challenge at the less-glorified end of the floor.
Any team looking to bolster their defense could make a claim on Allen and bolster its chances to compete with him on its side.
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