Remember when the Boston Celtics won the NBA title in 2008 and Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen looked like the picture-perfect band of brothers as they celebrated under the falling confetti? Well that is apparently long gone as the original Big 3's relationship can be described as rocky at best. After Allen opted to sign with Miami Heat in free agency a season ago, Garnett and Pierce no longer speak to him.
Allen was the center piece of trade rumors leading up to his free agency decision in the summer of 2012. The veteran had no idea whether or not Boston was intending to re-sign him or go for someone younger. As a result, Allen made the move to South Beach to join up with LeBron James and company and win another title. However, the decision came with the heavy price of essentially ending his relationship with Pierce and Garnett, something Allen is furious about.
"They haven't spoken to me," Allen said, via the Boston Herald. "For them to be so upset with me is disappointing because of how everything happened. That banner in 2008 is still going to be there, and we're still going to be tied to it. Look, I have a feeling they were in the same predicament I was in this summer. Even with Doc (Rivers), he had to make a decision that was best for himself. I was in the same situation. I'm happy they were put into the same situation as I was. Anytime you get traded there's no telling where you could end up. They're in a situation now where they can contend. Kevin had to make that decision, and that was the predicament I was in."
Garnett and Pierce opted to be traded this past offseason to the Brooklyn Nets as both players beginning to hear trade rumors surround them. Rivers also agreed to a trade sending him the Los Angeles Clippers. He admitted to not wanting to stick around for a rebuilding season. Allen has an excellent case for calling everyone a hypocrite in the situation.
James also stuck up for his teammate following the move of Garnett and Pierce to Brooklyn. He believes free agents can get treated unfairly following business decisions.
"I think the first thing I thought was 'wow, Ray got killed for leaving Boston and now these guys are leaving Boston,'" James said. "I think it's OK, I didn't mind it. But there were a couple guys who basically (expletive) on Ray for leaving and now they're leaving. That's the nature of our business, man. I don't know what Boston was going through at the end of the day. I know Ray had to make the best decision for him and his family and his career. Doc, KG and Paul did that as well. You can't criticize someone who does something that's best for their family."
It appears Allen, Garnett and Pierce are nowhere near speaking with each other right now. The war of words only increases the new budding rivalry between Brooklyn and Miami.