The Trail Blazers reached out late Sunday night to free agent defensive specialist Tony Allen, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The talks between the Blazers and Allen's reps were merely "exploratory," says Haynes, but there's some interest on both sides. The team is expected to resume talks with Allen at some point this week, though no meeting is scheduled at the moment, according to Haynes.
Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien has indicated that retaining Allen is his team's top priority this month, as Ronald Tillery writes for the Memphis Commercial Appeal. However, coming off earning a spot on the NBA All-Defensive team in back-to-back seasons, Allen figures to draw plenty of interest from around the NBA. We heard yesterday that the Pacers, Bucks, and Knicks could also be in pursuit.
Allen's last contract paid him $9.45MM over three years, including $3.3MM in 2012/13, so he's likely in line for a raise this summer.