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As NBA free agency continues, and with most of the big moves out the way (except maybe Melo), teams are now looking to fill roster spots with whatever free agents are still available.
That includes former Oklahoma State Cowboy Tony Allen. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Allen is drawing interest from two teams.
Clippers and Timberwolves are two teams I've heard that have interest in Tony Allen. Doc Rivers, Thibs have ties to him from Celtics days.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 12, 2017
As mentioned by McMahon, Allen has a connection to the head coaches of both teams. Doc Rivers was the head coach of the Celtics when Allen played for them from 2004 to 2010, while Tom Thibodeau was an assistant with Boston from 2007 to 2010.
The Clippers and Timberwolves are both looking for depth at shooting guard; the Clips because they lost Jamal Crawford to Minnesota, and the Wolves because they traded Zach Lavine to Chicago.
Allen spent the last seven seasons playing for the Memphis Grizzlies where he helped to establish the ‘grit and grind’ personality. Last season Allen averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 71 games. While he’s 35 years old, he’s still got plenty of gas in the tank, and while he may no longer be the best defender in the league (he deserved the award far more than Dwight Howard), he can still frustrate guards on any given night.
Allen played for Oklahoma State for two season from 2002 to 2004. He helped lead the Cowboys to their last Final Four appearance in 2004 and earned Big 12 player of the year.