NBA Free Agency 2012: Ray Allen More Interested in Home, Money or Championship?
Who better to make big playoff shots than Ray Allen? Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule
NBA Free Agency 2012 is in full swing and Ray Allen has a very important decision to make. His skills have diminished somewhat but he’s still a highly-coveted shooter. He’s being pursued by the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and the Boston Celtics. It’s going to come down to what is most important to him – staying home, making money or winning another championship.
Staying home
The Celtics have become Allen’s home as he’s been there the last five years of his career. They can also offer him the most money of any team, with a reported two years at $12 million on the table.
With Kevin Garnett recently re-signed, the Celtics can return the key components from their 2011-12 season with some intriguing rookies in Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo added in.
Going after another championship
The Heat already have a championship team. They have three excellent players in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh along with a steady mix of role players. Adding Allen to that mix doesn’t fix their issues at center but it pushes them even closer to repeating as champions.
Allen won’t be able to make the kind of money he could elsewhere, because the Heat are well over the cap and can only offer their exception, worth about $3 million.
Something completely different
Memphis is an intriguing landing spot for Allen. It appears as if they’ve cut ties with O.J. Mayo, so they have a perfect spot for Allen to step into. He’ll be a mentor to the younger players, especially the younger shooters, and can bring some championship experience to share with the veterans.
The Grizzlies have offered their exception, which is worth about $5 million over two years. The money isn’t nearly as impressive and it’s foolish to imply the Grizzlies are more legitimate as contenders than the Heat, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
What it’s all going to come down to is what Allen wants most. If it’s home and money, he should go to the Celtics. If it’s a championship, it’s the Heat. If it’s a new challenge, it’s the Grizzlies.