While it seems that Ray Allen is seriously considering riding off into the sunset and retire after 18 seasons in the NBA, both the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to change his mind and sign him for at least one more season, hoping to convince him that he’s a missing piece they need in order to win a championship.
Allen has played for the Miami Heat over the last two seasons. He might not have won the 2013 Finals MVP, but his name is etched on that trophy forever, making one of the most memorable shots in NBA finals history in game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs, when all was lost. LeBron James is doing his best to get Allen to sign with the Heat, who also have Mike Miller and James Jones on board.
Pat Riley is doing his best to keep the pieces of Miami together. Shane Battier retired and James left via free agency, but they’ve been able to retain Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen, Mari Chalmers and Udonis Haslem. Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger have joined. Maybe not the best team in the NBA or even the East, but a very good job of keeping the place from falling apart after the departure of James.
Allen, a two-time NBA champion who has also made 10 All-Star teams and is the league’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers doesn’t have anything left to prove or to achieve. He even has the gold medal from the 2000 Olympics. He averaged 9.6 points per game last season for the Heat with his 3-point shooting falling to 37.5%, his lowest since the 2009-2010 season with the Boston Celtics.
It comes down to hunger. Allen will get a veteran’s minimum and in any case, it won’t be the money that keeps him in the game. He’ll have to do the calculations about whether or not the teams offering him a place on the roster have what it takes, with him on board, to go all the way. He’s trying to get himself to answer – will it be worth another season of all the hard work and everything that comes along with being on a basketball team, if there’s not too good of a chance to finish with a trophy at the end of the journey.