Heat Target Ray Allen
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Heat need help if they're going to pull off a Heat-peat and win next year's NBA Championship. NBA free agency opened Sunday morning and Miami has one name at the top of the list, Ray Allen.
The Heat has targeted Ray Allen for a long time and all of the Big Three have been selling joining the Heat to Allen. However, the Heat has stiff competition from Allen's most recent team, the Boston Celtics.
Allen has reportedly been offered a 2-year-contract with the Celtics for $12 million, according to the Boston Herald. That's roughly double what the Heat can offer Allen with the mini mid-level exception of $3 million per season.
The Heat have seen what Allen can do for years and would love to plug in his season totals from last year of 14.2 points, 45 percent shooting from 3-point-land, and 92 percent free throw shooting into the Heat's rotation.
If Allen were to join the Heat, he would be a key reserve, who could possibly start depending on the lineup Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra wanted to toss out each night.
That said, the odds are long that Allen would come to the Heat. Miami can't win a bidding war for his services; he was paid $10 million last season and going down to $3 million is a steep cut; and then there's the Kevin Garnett factor.
The Big Ticket agreed to terms with the Celtics over the weekend for a 3-year-deal. With Garnett returning, and Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo still on the team, the only piece missing for another shot at a title is Allen.
According to the Boston Herald, the main thing Allen is worried about is security. The last few years, the Celtics have almost blown up the roster and traded key pieces like Allen away. Miami could offer that stability as the Heat would want him to be on the floor in key situations.
If Allen signed with the Heat, Miami could put a lineup on the floor to end games that includes: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, and Allen. It would create spacing nightmares for opponents and keep the Heat at the top of the league.
Allen hasn't given any sign when he might make a decision, but ESPN's Chris Broussard said the longer he takes to make a decision, the more likely it is that he stays with the Celtics.
