Free-agent guard Ray Allen plans to use the offseason to exercise his free agency rights and visit with some of the NBA's elite teams.
"While watching the Draft my son Bryce ask "Is Ray Allen gonna play for the Heat". I said "I don't know. I hope so".
Finals MVP, LeBron James, tweeted that June 28th, and according to confirmed league sources, Allen will visit the NBA champions on Thursday.
Miami can offer Allen, who has spent the last five seasons with the Heat rivals, the Boston Celtics, only a mini mid-level exception, worth just over $3 million a year, while the Celtics are positioned to offer a two-year, $12 million contract.
Allen would figure to be a perfect fit in Miami because they want to surround the big three, made of James, Wade, and Bosh, with shooters who extend defenses and therefore create room around the basket for an inside attack. This approach worked well for Miami during the season who've, as a team, made just fewer than 36 percent of their 3-point attempts. During the playoffs-the Heat were 9-1 when making at least eight 3-pointers, and they hit 14 in the Finals-clincher over Oklahoma City.
Allen in 15 of his 16 seasons has made at least 100 3-pointers. He's established career bests for accuracy in each of the past two seasons; first making 44 percent of his 3s in 2010-11, then 45 percent this past year. He holds the NBA record for the most 3-pointers made with 2,718.
Though Allen joining the Heat makes sense for the Heat, Allen remains sought after by several other teams that include Boston, Memphis, the Clippers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, and the Dallas Mavericks.
Besides the Heat who can make an offer, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers can offer Allen the full mid-level exception. Memphis so far has already offered Allen the full mid-level exception, worth $5 million, for two years.
With so many offers coming Allen's way, the Celtic organization remains unsure that they could convince Allen to stay.
In a radio interview with "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday, Coach Rivers gave a glimpse of his nervousness to the situation.
"I don't know," Rivers said. "We're working hard. He has a lot of options and that's the bad news for us. It'll be interesting. I wish I had a feel on it. Usually I do. But I can tell you this one I don't."