Free agent Ray Allen left his meeting with the Miami Heat on Thursday night without giving them an answer on their contract offer and is torn on whether to leave the Boston Celtics, sources told ESPN.com on Friday.
Allen had an afternoon meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra and then went to dinner with them and other members of the team’s front office. The Heat offered Allen their mid-level exception, which starts at $3.09 million per season– or half of the Celtics’ offer of $6 million per year over two years. The most the Heat could offer is three years and $9.5 million.
The sources did not go into specifics, saying Allen is torn because remaining a Celtic is still very much an option.
Meanwhile, a third team — the Minnesota Timberwolves — has not been ruled out as an alternative for Allen, though he isn’t at the top of the Wolves’ wish list at the moment, sources tell ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.
The Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers all reached out to Allen as well, but sources say the Clippers have been dropped from consideration and the Suns and Grizzlies have moved on to other alternatives. Allen, however, said a source familiar with his thinking, has not eliminated either the Suns or the Grizzlies.
Allen has been recruited by Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Riley and Spoelstra were believed to have presented a plan where Allen would have a major role in the offense playing alongside them and Chris Bosh. The Heat are hoping that the offer entices Allen to leave money on the table and end his five-year partnership with Celtics stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
The Celtics, sources said, have their own plan for incorporating Allen into a different role that includes playing him alongside Jason Terry, who committed to sign with the Celtics earlier this week. The Boston Herald reported that Boston also has offered to include a no-trade clause in Allen’s contract, something the Heat cannot offer.
Meanwhile, according to reports, the Heat will meet with free agents Rashard Lewis and Marcus Camby over the weekend.
WRITTEN BY Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE
