Ray Allen in a Heat uniform is an unwelcome sight to Celtics’ fans.
Rumors swirled for weeks that Ray Allen had serious interest in joining the Miami Heat, but the sting of Friday night’s news that he accepted a contract with the Boston Celtics’ rivals was still very sobering for Celtics’ fans. Allen, who is turning 37 years old on July 20th, is coming off ankle surgery and was hindered during the second half of the past season with that injury. If healthy, Allen will provide a lethal outside shooting option for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade when they attack the rim. The 6-foot-5-inch guard shot 45% from beyond the arc last season.
Sources close to the Celtics have provided many reasons for why Allen may have left Boston after five productive seasons. Yahoo.com writer Adrian Wojnarowski may have found the motivation for Allen’s departure: “He felt he was getting respect that he hadn’t gotten from [Celtics president] Danny [Ainge] and [coach] Doc [Rivers] anymore,” a source close to Allen said Friday night.
The Big Three would have never been formed if Allen was not traded from the then-Seattle SuperSonics in a draft night deal that sent the fifth pick (ironically Jeff Green) to the Sonics along with Delonte West. He helped the Celtics win a championship in 2008 when the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games. In 2010, the Celtics nearly won another title, but they succumbed to the Lakers in seven games. Allen broke Reggie Miller’s three point record in a 92-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2011.
Others in the media have hinted Allen’s clashes with Rajon Rondo caused his decision to join the Heat. The Celtics are left with a need for a backup shooting guard or point guard depending on how Jason Terry will be deployed. Given the recent news about Avery Bradley missing the start of the season, the Celtics will need to continue looking for a combo guard option. ESPN’s Marc Stein reported today that Rivers met with free agent Courtney Lee from the Houston Rockets. Lee would be an excellent canidate to replace Allen with his shooting and defensive ability.