Ray Allen's message in the Boston Globe

[kozlodoev]

Yeah but Ray Allen (not you, not me, not Whoopie Goldberg, not Kirk Cameron, not Six from the TV show Blossom, not the cubs fan who caught that ball that one time and everyone hated him..) alone knows his mind, and he changed it. You gonna hate him for deciding one thing he used to think was best for his family he now believed different?

That's the point, despite multiple posters trying to convince everyone that "Ray Allen did what he thought was best for his family", all I see is indication that Ray Allen went to Miami despite what may have been best for his family.

Ray Allen did whatever was he thought was best for Ray Allen -- which may or may not have included family considerations, his hate for Rondo, his desire to stick it to the Celtics for showing "no loyalty", and his desire to ride LeBron's coattails to the finals. I'm not sure why people would assume out everything but the first possibility. 

Please show me direct quotes from Ray Allen that show he actually hated Rondo, or would ever do anything he thought wasn't in his family's best interests. In fact show me one quote direct from Ray Allen that shows that his decision had anything to do with 'sticking' it to anyone.

Cuz they don't exist. His past behavior, his actions, words, pictograms, they all show a guy who is professional, considerate, and passionate about basketball.

Now that he makes a decision you (by this I mean the 'royal' you, as in everyone) don't agree with, that all goes out the window? I don't see the grounds for it at all.

Oh, so just because he didn't say anything we must ignore the possibility. Well, he never said that moving to Miami is best for his family, so this gets thrown out the window, too.

As a matter of fact, for all we know he moved to Florida because Pierce doesn't like cornflakes...

[nickagneta]

Last time I checked he was hitting huge three point shots to tie games and win games for the Celtics when the chips were down.

In the past, although his latest move was leaving both money + security on the table for a new jersey with his old number on it.

He did EXACTLY what he said he would do. Hesaid he would sign his next contract based on his and his family's needs.

Let's review, based on what we know:

- 2 years, 6 million a year in Boston: not adequate for his and his family's needs
- 2 years, 6 million a year in Boston, maybe a no-trade or a trade kicker: not adequate for his and his family's needs
- 1 + 1 years, 3 million a year in Miami: adequate for his and his family's needs, evidenced by fact that this is where he wound up ultimately.
- 3 years, 9 million a year in Boston: ostensibly adequate for his and his family's needs, since the offer came from him.

Bullet #4 is the sticky wicket. The only difference on the surface is the money and the years. Was it the money? Was it the extra year? Was it a false rumor, one repeated by the owner? It bothers me.

He's made $178 million in his career. Add on endorsement money and his kids' kids should never have to work a day in their lives. Money wasn't the issue.

He wanted a better quality of life for him and his family and he thought he could get that in Miami. Perhaps his inner circle isn't saying anything because they support his decision?

Doc Rivers, supporting the heck out of Ray Allen:

When asked if he agreed with Allen’s reasons for signing with Miami, Rivers said, “No. But that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I think. I just wish we could have found a way [to keep him] and we didn’t. I’ll always put [the blame] on us, that’s easier.”

Of course, Doc is biased. But! It's possible that Allen is fine with getting beat on, and has a reason too personal to share publicly, or he is too much of a professional to air his dirty laundry.

And because this is possible, this means that I am wrong.

If you are mad because he went left and went to the Heat, that's understandable. But just that. This whole "Ray said this and did the opposite" or "Ray bad mouthed the Celtics" or any of this other stuff people are saying just isn't true and are not valid reasons to be angry with the guy.

How do you know? I find it kind of amazing that I get raked over the coals for suggesting that something is possible, but you get to assert for free that it's untrue.

So let me see if I have this straight.

You assert that Ray isn't doing the right thing by his family because he took $6 million less to play in Miami even though he has made upwards towards 30 times that amount of money for his family over the last 15 years? Really? You really want to stick with that story?

Also, I said he made a decision based on what was best for him and his family. What the hell does Doc's quote got to do with anything. Doc has selfish reasons for wanting Ray to stay here. And he's not an Allen family member.

Lastly, as soon as you can produce the quotes from Ray Allen saying the stuff you are claiming he said, then fine, I will apologize and stop "raking you over the coals". But until then, I am sorry to say, but my statement is true and yours is not.Ray hasn't said bad things about the team, the handling of KG, his relationship with Rondo, or any of this other stuff. Its all speculation by others and that is all it is.

[Lord of Mikawa]

I wish Ray would come out and say he did this for himself.

[indeedproceed]

Yeah but Ray Allen (not you, not me, not Whoopie Goldberg, not Kirk Cameron, not Six from the TV show Blossom, not the cubs fan who caught that ball that one time and everyone hated him..) alone knows his mind, and he changed it. You gonna hate him for deciding one thing he used to think was best for his family he now believed different?

That's the point, despite multiple posters trying to convince everyone that "Ray Allen did what he thought was best for his family", all I see is indication that Ray Allen went to Miami despite what may have been best for his family.

Ray Allen did whatever was he thought was best for Ray Allen -- which may or may not have included family considerations, his hate for Rondo, his desire to stick it to the Celtics for showing "no loyalty", and his desire to ride LeBron's coattails to the finals. I'm not sure why people would assume out everything but the first possibility.  

Please show me direct quotes from Ray Allen that show he actually hated Rondo, or would ever do anything he thought wasn't in his family's best interests. In fact show me one quote direct from Ray Allen that shows that his decision had anything to do with 'sticking' it to anyone.

Cuz they don't exist. His past behavior, his actions, words, pictograms, they all show a guy who is professional, considerate, and passionate about basketball.

Now that he makes a decision you (by this I mean the 'royal' you, as in everyone) don't agree with, that all goes out the window? I don't see the grounds for it at all.

Oh, so just because he didn't say anything we must ignore the possibility. Well, he never said that moving to Miami is best for his family, so this gets thrown out the window, too.

As a matter of fact, for all we know he moved to Florida because Pierce doesn't like cornflakes...

I'm not sure where to go with this. You've got nothing to support the notion that Ray Allen suddenly turned into a petty, spiteful man who was out for himself first, everything else second besides..well nothing. Not a single attributable quote, nothing beyond speculation.

While I have an entire career's worth of goodwill and professionalism, as well as the professional and neutral nature he's handled even the criticism of him leaving.

"I've given so much, not only on the floor but off the floor," he said. "There's a sense of sadness and hurt I think the people [in Boston] feel. And we feel that too as a family. We feel the sense of loss that we'll have not being in that community, and that's understandable."

Some back in Boston have stupidly been ripping him as "Judas Shuttlesworth" for leaving the Celtics for the Eastern Conference rival that's bounced them from the playoffs two years running.

He insisted it doesn't bother him to be cast as the villain, no doubt hoping most of that anger will blow over by the time he makes his return to Boston.

"I know who I am," he said. "I know what my everyday goals or tasks are. That's to raise my kids to be respectful people in this world and to make this team better."

So you're saying that guy would make a move he thought would hurt his family? That guy picks Miami just to stick it to Boston?

[kozlodoev]

"I've given so much, not only on the floor but off the floor," he said. "There's a sense of sadness and hurt I think the people [in Boston] feel. And we feel that too as a family. We feel the sense of loss that we'll have not being in that community, and that's understandable."

Some back in Boston have stupidly been ripping him as "Judas Shuttlesworth" for leaving the Celtics for the Eastern Conference rival that's bounced them from the playoffs two years running.

He insisted it doesn't bother him to be cast as the villain, no doubt hoping most of that anger will blow over by the time he makes his return to Boston.

"I know who I am," he said. "I know what my everyday goals or tasks are. That's to raise my kids to be respectful people in this world and to make this team better."

So you're saying that guy would make a move he thought would hurt his family? That guy picks Miami just to stick it to Boston?

Let's review this again: just because he never said anythin about a rift with Rondo or a perceived slight by the Celtics being the reason he jumped ship, we should summarily dispose of these as possible reasons, and assume he was doing "whatever was best for his family".

I was just pointing out that by the same token, since he never said anythign about doing what's best for his family, you should discard this too. This is mostly a knee-jerk reaction, I admit -- but I hope it serves well to drive a point.

For that matter, if you look at the highlighted part of your quote, this appears to support my notion that he changed team against what could have been the best for his family.

[Interceptor]

You assert that Ray isn't doing the right thing by his family because he took $6 million less to play in Miami even though he has made upwards towards 30 times that amount of money for his family over the last 15 years? Really? You really want to stick with that story?

Explain 3y/27m. To me, that sounds like his family has a price either in years, dollars, or pride. Or do you think that it was an unsubstantiated rumor?

Also, I said he made a decision based on what was best for him and his family. What the hell does Doc's quote got to do with anything. Doc has selfish reasons for wanting Ray to stay here. And he's not an Allen family member.

I admitted that Doc is biased, but he's the closest thing we have to someone near to Ray that made any sort of statement whatsoever.

Lastly, as soon as you can produce the quotes from Ray Allen saying the stuff you are claiming he said, then fine, I will apologize and stop "raking you over the coals".

Is it really that much of a stretch to believe that Ray Allen said he wanted a multi-year deal and stability and to provide for his family? I guess it's possible that I am remembering the article completely wrong, but this was back when I didn't hate his stupid face. If I can ever find a link I will provide it.

[Onslaught]

For all we know his family wanted him to play for the heat. I recall one article saying his wife wasn't happy about the trade stuff too. Now I don't know if that's true or not. I could be bull stuff like all the other rumors flying around.

[indeedproceed]

Let's review this again: just because he never said about a rift with Rondo or a perceived slight by the Celtics being the reason he jumped ship, we should summarily dispose of these as possible reasons, and assume he was doing "whatever was best for his family".

I'll soften my stance on this a bit. Ray Allen would never do anything to hurt his family, and if he thought moving to Miami would be bad for his family, he wouldn't do it. Remember he's a military kid, he's used to moving, understands what it entails.

I was just pointing out that by the same token, since he never said anythign about doing what's best for his family, you should discard this too. This is mostly a knee-jerk reaction, I admit -- but I hope it serves well to drive a point.

I bet you 20 tommy points I can find a quote from Ray Allen where he says 'I had to do what was best for me and my family'. Accept?

For that matter, if you look at the highlighted part of your quote, ("There's a sense of sadness and hurt I think the people [in Boston] feel. And we feel that too as a family. We feel the sense of loss that we'll have not being in that community, and that's understandable.") this appears to support my notion that he changed team against what could have been the best for his family.

I don't read it like that at all. I read it that Ray Allen is a human being who has emotions like regular people. Emotional pain because of moving is natural, unless you hated the people you lived near. That doesn't mean you shouldn't move.

[kozlodoev]

To make a long story short, here is what we know for a fact:

1. Ray Allen took a financially inferior offer to play in Miami
2. His family plans to live in New England (see quotes from transcript already posted)

Even based on those two facts alone it's not hard to figure out that Ray Allen's decision is entirely about Ray Allen.

edit: Just realized that part of the transcript wasn't posted. Here it is:

Ray on leaving Boston: "We feel the sense of loss that we'll have, not being in that community, and that's understandable. But we're still part of that community. We're still a part of New England. We still live in Connecticut. Our home is still in Boston, so that's not going to change how we feel about the people there."

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4696164/allen-reflects-on-celtics-in-heat-intro

[indeedproceed]

To make a long story short, here is what we know for a fact:

1. Ray Allen took a financially inferior offer to play in Miami
2. His family plans to live in New England (see quotes from transcript already posted)

Even based on those two facts alone it's not hard to figure out that Ray Allen's decision is entirely about Ray Allen.

edit: Just realized that part of the transcript wasn't posted. Here it is:

Ray on leaving Boston: "We feel the sense of loss that we'll have, not being in that community, and that's understandable. But we're still part of that community. We're still a part of New England. We still live in Connecticut. Our home is still in Boston, so that's not going to change how we feel about the people there."

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4696164/allen-reflects-on-celtics-in-heat-intro

I'll concede. Ray Allen decided to play for Miami because he decided to play for Miami. I thought he was bringin his kids with him (that was based on quotes that the doctors in Miami had already 'patched him in' with specialists for Walker).

[Q_FBE]

Well, we all make the best available career decisions we can at the time. I still am flabbergasted that someone would volunteer to take a 50% pay cut from a best offer with current employer to go to an unknown situation. Ray Allen could be their fourth key player or could be stuck on the bench and be trade bait because I know that Battier, Chalmers, Jones, and Norris Cole are all very capable players.

Was Ray Allen that unhappy with the Celtics? Only he knows. Hope he is happy now and gets in his golf between basketball practices.

[kozlodoev]

I'll concede. Ray Allen decided to play for Miami because he decided to play for Miami.

Accord, at last! Well done, good sir! 

[Interceptor]

I'll concede. Ray Allen decided to play for Miami because he decided to play for Miami. I thought he was bringin his kids with him (that was based on quotes that the doctors in Miami had already 'patched him in' with specialists for Walker).

This was also my interpretation. I thought by "home is still in Boston" he meant more the "where the heart is" sort of thing, and that the doctor referral thing was a legit move of his entire family to Miami.

So I guess what he was torn over, was leaving his family. What a winner.

[indeedproceed]

I'll concede. Ray Allen decided to play for Miami because he decided to play for Miami.

Accord, at last! Well done, good sir! 

I still disagree about the level of angst and anger about it, like Ray was some kind of petty child with a bruised ego, but if his family is staying he clearly didn't think his decision to leave would harm them.

I wonder though, how long has his family lived here? Since college? Were they here while he was in Milwaukee or Seattle?

[kozlodoev]

I'll concede. Ray Allen decided to play for Miami because he decided to play for Miami.

Accord, at last! Well done, good sir!  

I still disagree about the level of angst and anger about it, like Ray was some kind of petty child with a bruised ego, but if his family is staying he clearly didn't think his decision to leave would harm them.

I wonder though, how long has his family lived here? Since college? Were they here while he was in Milwaukee or Seattle?

Not sure. Can't quite track anything out there. In 2010, when he was resigning with us, there were reports that his teenage daughter moved to Wellsley High from "North Caroline, where she lived with her mother" (Ray apparently lived inaWellsley during his tenure with the Cs). So I assume NC was where they lived before?

My take on this is that they'll be maintaining some sort of offseason home in CT? In any case, with all the obvious ties between his family and New England, including the Joselyn Center and a home in CT, it makes it very hard for me to take the "best for the family card" at face value, and discard the petulent child argument.

I don't care whether he goes to play for Miami or some place else, I'd just like to know why.