It All Comes Down To Miami Or Boston For Ray Allen

With the L.A. Clippers close to signing Jamal Crawford and re-signing Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen is no longer a target for “Lob City”. In fact, the Clippers cancelled the meeting they were going to have with Allen today, so now its a two horse race between the Celtics and Heat.

Next on Ray’s agenda is Miami. The Heat have already offered him a 1 year $3 million deal and one thing that money can’t buy is the possibility of getting another ring. They also have two of the best players in the NBA, but there are smaller things that Ray needs to think about.

While the Celtics have offered him a 2 year $12 million contract, its the stuff off the court that will ultimately play a factor in his decision. Allen is a family man who has been very active in the community, his mother has become a local celebrity by attending all the games cheering on her son, and he’s close with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Whether there is an issue with Rondo and him, I think maybe they can look past that. One reason Ray may consider going elsewhere is the fact that Danny Ainge has almost traded him at least 5 times in the last two or three years. To quench his trade fears, the Celtics have offered to add a no trade clause in his next contract.

Most sports writers disagree with Boston’s decision to put this clause into Ray’s next contract. I ask why? Ray is getting old and by the time this next contract is up, he’ll be 38 years old. How much do you expect to get in return for an aging veteran like that? Now with Jason Terry, Allen won’t need to be the main guy who knocks down the open 3 point shot, he won’t need to score 16 to 20 points a night, and he won’t have to play so many minutes during the regular season.

This is going to be interesting to see what Allen decides. If he chooses Miami, he’s walking away from $9 million more than the Heat are offering, he’s leaving the city that has embraced him and supported him since the first day he arrived, he’s not going to be on a team that in my opinion may be a serious championship contender next season, and he’s probably going to be moving his family away from where they have settled.

Seeing that L.A. kind of dumped him without even giving him a chance to meet with the team, and all the cons of joining the Heat, I really think he’ll choose Boston even with his issues with Rondo. He’s going to be walking away from too much, and I think Allen is a smart guy who will make the right decision for both himself and his family.