Ray Allen Exercises Player Option, Will Return to Celtics

As he promised after his team’s early playoff exit, Celtic guard Ray Allen will be returning to Boston next season. Allen picked up his player option of $10 million for 2011-12 today, the team announced. From CBSSports.com: “It was an obvious thing to do for Allen as he wants to stay on a contender and he’s unlikely to find a new contract with a team worth that amount. Also, with all the lockout talk, Allen didn’t want to be hanging in limbo trying to sort out a new deal with potentially new rules. It really was a no-brainer for him to exercise his option. Allen, 35, just completed his 14th NBA season and shot a career-high 44 percent from 3. He averaged 16.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Celtics, who were eliminated by the Heat in the Western Conference Semifinals. Allen became the NBA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter, breaking Reggie Miller’s mark this past season as well. Allen is currently ranked as the 24th highest scorer in NBA history with 22,286 career points. The question is though, what happens after this year for him? Allen seems ready to play well into his late 30s, but there’s good potential this could be his last season in Boston. Someone will pay him to stand outside and shoot 3s because he’s still the best in the game at it. But will it be the Celtics?”