Ray Allen Visiting Heat Thursday, Clippers Friday
Ray Allen will be visiting Miami Thursday, as the Heat try to woo the free agent away from the Celtics. Allen will then head to the West Coast Friday to meet with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge.
Ray Allen is one of the most in demand free agents on the market right now, and has also fielded offers from the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies. Allen’s agent Jim Tanner said that he was still talking to the Celtics, the team he has been with since 2007 and won a championship with in 2008.
The Heat can only offer Allen the mid-level exception of $3.09 million and the Clippers are able to offer him $5 million. However, the Heat most likely won’t use Allen as a starter, but the Clippers might make him a part of their starting unit if he decides to sign with them.
In 15 of his 16 seasons in the NBA, Ray Allen has scored at least 100 3-pointers, and holds the league’s highest 3-point percentage (.400) with 2,718 shots made over the course of his career. The only blemish on his nearly flawless record was the shortened 50 game 1998-99 season, in which he only scored 74 3 point shots. His percentage this season was .453, a career high.
Celtics president Danny Ainge would like to keep his Big 3 next season, as Kevin Garnett has already agreed to a three-year deal, and Paul Pierce is still under contract. The Celtics are offering a $12 million two-year deal, considerably more than what the Heat or the Clippers can offer, but only time will tell if Ray Allen will stay in Boston for another shot at a championship.
Should Ray Allen stay with the Celtics, or is he better off with a new team?
