NBA Free Agency: Should Ray Allen Have Been Loyal?

There had been talk about a disconnect between Ray Allen and Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.  Rondo and Allen were said to have barely talked during the season, and have had a known dislike for one another.  And then there was the fact that Ray Allen never felt appreciated by Danny Ainge.

This all came to its head when Pat Riley put on a presentation to woo Allen into a Heat jersey.  Riley, a legendary coach and true figure head in the NBA, promised Allen the respect he felt he has deserved throughout his entire career.  Riley has even committed to Allen recruiting former teammate Rashard Lewis, whose merits as a player are highly debatable.

But will Allen ultimately get what he wants in Miami?  What does Allen want?  Presumably, another ring.   One is never enough.  But Allen has already solidified himself as an NBA legend and possibly the greatest three point shooter of all time, after passing the immortal Reggie Miller in all time makes.  Allen’s stroke is pure, his game is undeniable, and he has been a movie star in He Got Game.  It’s an excellent movie, if you haven’t yet seen it.

What does Allen feel he still has to accomplish, besides winning another ring?  Is this move just about that?  Couldn’t he have won another in Boston?  The Celtics look to be contenders for the next short while at least, and the signing of Jason Terry may have been all the oomph Allen needed to know that he was being replaced in one way or another.

To be sure, Allen could have came back and started with Terry coming off the bench, but teams don’t sign replacements like Terry to the full M.L.E. without an inkling of knowing that their incumbent may walk.

Walk Allen did.  But I don’t know if we can blame him.  Something was missing in that puzzle for Allen, and if he hated playing with Rajon Rondo, maybe that was all we needed to know.

Rondo is the Celtics right now, with all the other pieces like legend Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as add ons.  Sure, he’s playing with two hall of famers, but Rondo is what the C’s have value wise.  He is the only player on the roster with premier trade value, the only talent that could land a top five draft pick in return, should Ainge decide he wants to build around a rookie.  That is all a digression.

For now, we deal with the fact that the best three point shooter in NBA history has departed for what he appears to feel are warmer waters.  He may be right.  He may get another two rings and make us all look foolish for questioning his motives.  The thing is, I don’t think Allen has anything left to prove as a player.  We already know what he has done, and what he can do, and right now it is all extra dipping sauce in his career; we have enough; we’re good.