http://www.realclearsports.com/2012/07/07/allen_sticks_it_to_celtics_by_joining_heat_103470.html Good read
Thanks, sounded complicated. Amazing what happens to superstars behind the scenes. I take it that its all about the business component meshed in with the personalities. It's a juggling act handling 4 stars and their egos. Maybe Riley and Eric S. can manage their four better than the Cs did. Ray made the best decision for him, and its always good to work for a company where you feel wanted especially in the twilight of your career.
Heat wanted Ray, apparently. But they didn't want him in terms of $. A. Woj.'s story frankly lacks logic. Allen was insulted that some of his money was going to Rondo. But now his money is going into Miller and Battier's pocket. What's the difference? I'm shaking my head. At least Rondo deserves it. This is a case of the grass is always greener--or redder as the case may be. Also, Adrian's article is at least 1/3rd too long if not more.
He is worth $100,000,000 and is winding down his career. Why not leave for the Heat where he will get open shots and get away from a point guard he hates? He doesn't need the extra money that the C's can give him. He wanted out so he went to the best place available. Celtics fans shouldn't be bitter at all. They tried to trade him at least twice. Why would he be loyal?
Ray was basically the Cs' first round draft pick in 2007, and with Durant being off the board, I'd say the celtics got their pick's worth with Ray. I mean, what if they'd ended up with Greg Oden instead?
I think part of it too is that Ray felt he could control his own destiny by signing with Miami. If he went back to Boston, odds are he would find himself as a throw-in for trade talks in mid-year (especially with Terry in the fold now), and then who knows where you end up? Miami will almost certainly hold on to him for $3 million - they are not going to get that sort of value from anyone else. Even if he struggles all year, he could still nail some clutch 3's in the playoffs and be the difference in a pivotal game. By making this move, Ray knows that he'll be playing deep in the playoffs (barring injury) and not traded to Toronto or Portland in February because the Celtics were able to fill a weakness and get, say, a dominant rebounder. I imagine that was a major "pro" when he looked at pros and cons. It does mean that he won't really have a team when he goes into the HOF. Maybe he'll go in as a Sonic to pay homage to a fallen franchise. Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk
That's basically it - if he went back to the Celtics, he was going to be a trade piece up until the time the Celtics actually traded him. He controls his destiny to a much larger extent in Miami. He also plays for a superior team in a superior climate.
I heard the Celtics were offering more money and the ability to NOT be traded. It was on Sportcenter a few days ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is great from a networking point of view. We could use another pro ring, too. I can't believe this day has come, but now I have to root for the Heat. Did used to be a Heat fan back in the Rony Seikaly days.
Even if that was the case, it was probably too little too late at this point. He's been trade bait for several years, and that had to wear on him. That doesnt look good from Allen's perspective, since Boston looked like they wanted to keep him as soon as there was a chance he could go to a rival.
If it were me the trade stuff would bother me more than not starting and money. As a veteran he knows that he isn't going to be getting his old max salary and he surely has encountered teammates he hasn't gotten along with, but if you've been in the league as long as Ray I'm pretty sure you'd like to sign with a team you're reasonably sure won't immediately begin to shop you.
Reports were Celtics were offering a no-trade clause - so how can that be such a concern? You don't react to a fear of being trade by going somewhere else AND going somewhere that cannot offer a no-trade. Also the report of the Celtics no-trade offer to Ray is basically the entire premise for AWoj's assertion that Allen wanted to stick it to the Celtics - I disagree. Miami just happens to be in their conference, I bet Ray would prefer they weren't. To some extent I wonder if the Celtics were really offering Ray $6MM & 2yrs. It just doesn't make sense to sign Jason Terry and Ray once Avery Bradley is healthy. I wonder if the reports of the Celtics offers were just PR to avoid the sting of not wanting a popular player? It'll be interesting to see what Ray himself says when he finally talks. Some of that article might be true especially the Rondo stuff - but my best guess (and I think that article is a GUESS) is that it came down to Basketball reasons. Lots of unknown 'sources' in that article and it seems like a bunch of hearsay cobbled together into guesses to add drama. Ray was almost always the 3rd or 4th option in the Boston offense and his entire time on the Celtics there'd be occasional articles/talk about how they need to get him involved earlier in games yet this never happened consistently. Its easy to blame Rondo and say that was the issue, but ultimately its the coach who sets the offense and the Celtics offense was best served by Rondo attacking. When Ray was featured it was in a Paul Pierce create a shot way, often without picks and Ray cannot attack the rim or get separation with quickness as well as he could 5 yrs ago - and eons from Ray of 10yrs ago. So I think Ray simply saw in the Miami Heat a team whose offense style was much better suited to his style of play particularly at this point in his career. If Mike Miller can make 7 three's in a game and Shane Battier can get WIDE open looks Ray has to be drooling at the number & quality of shots he will get in that offense. I think he switched teams because he'll enjoy playing there more (some Rondo negative to be read into) and he knows he can succeed and succeed for longer in the Heat offense.
And you believe that? Again, whenever I hear Danny Ainge talk it brings me back to this George Carlin bit - start at the 0:50 mark. Maybe I'm seeing Ray with National Flag Blue colored glasses, but I don't see him caring about "sticking it" to the Celtics. It's more about not letting phony sentmentality getting in the way of doing what's best for his career.
