Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Flip Murray. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ronald "Flip" Murray is reportedly one of a handful of former NBA players who wants to make a comeback this coming season and he is being linked to his old team, according to latest rumors.
Basketball Insiders reported that along with Ray Allen, Stephen Jackson, Richard Hamilton and Carlos Boozer, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound combo guard had also recently "expressed interest in returning to the NBA" next season.
The report noted that with the league's salary cap rising to unprecedented amounts, a lot of free agent veterans who feel that they still have something to offer to today's teams are dreaming of lacing it up one more time. The article also mentioned that these NBA vets "never lost the itch to play and want to compete at the highest level once again".
Murray, who will turn 37 on Friday, last played in the NBA six years ago, during the 2009-2010 season. He suited up for the then Charlotte Bobcats during the first half of the regular season, playing 46 games and averaging 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game before getting traded to the Chicago Bulls during the 2010 February trade deadline for Tyrus Thomas.
He played the final 29 games of his NBA career for the Bulls, averaging 10.1 points, 2.9 boards, and 1.8 dimes per contest.
When no one gave him a contract during the summer of 2010, Murray signed with Turkish League squad Anadolu Efes SK for one season.
The former Shaw standout tried one more time to break through in the NBA by training with the Memphis Grizzlies in the summer of 2012, but he did not make the regular season roster and was cut before the opening night of the 2012-2013 season.
Fansided's King James Gospel suggested that the reigning NBA champions should give Murray another chance as they could use him as a "combo guard behind Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith" as his frame and strength allows him to defend both guard positions while also playing two positions in offense as well.
Of course, his experience gives him the most value as he was able to play 45 games in five seasons in the playoffs including a trip with the Cavs in 2006 where he averaged a decent 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Murray was never known as an outside shooter, though, as he "is more of a slasher that excels off the ball" and a rebounding guard as exhibited by his numbers.
