Saturday, July 7th, 2012 at 12:27 pm  |  89 responses

Ray Allen Felt Disrespected in Boston


After five seasons in Boston, Ray Allen felt he wasn’t getting the respect he deserved. The future Hall of Famer didn’t like how the Celtics dangled his name in trade talks, and his relationship with Rajon Rondo was “too far gone.” Yahoo! reports that Allen wanted to exact revenge on the Celtics, signing for much less with the Heat: “The issues chasing Ray Allen out of the Boston Celtics and into the arms of their most despised opponent stacked higher and higher, and suddenly everything crystallized in the hours basketball’s most persuasive recruiter, Pat Riley, captivated him. The emperor of the Miami Heat sold Allen on never hearing his name in trade talks and a run of championships awaiting him. After all these years, Allen needed to feel wanted again, needed the recruiting, and Riles had such a willing soul sitting with him in the breeze blowing over Biscayne Bay. ‘He felt he was getting respect that he hadn’t gotten from [Celtics president] Danny [Ainge] and [coach] Doc [Rivers] anymore,’ a source close to him said Friday night. ‘…The presentation was incredible.’ Respect comes in different ways, but make no mistake: The Celtics had offered two years and $12 million – respect for someone’s who’s 37 and coming off ankle surgery – and it didn’t matter to Allen. He hated the way Ainge dangled him in trade talks, hated that the Celtics told him he was on his way to Memphis in a deal at the March deadline only to have Rivers later tell him the trade was dead. Allen hated that Rivers didn’t give him his starting job back after he returned from a late-season ankle injury, and hated that it always felt like he was the Celtics star made to sacrifice above the rest. Ainge and Rivers talked to Allen over and over on these issues in recent weeks, tried to smooth over the lingering bitterness, but there was something that Allen couldn’t move past, something he no longer wanted to deal with – the deterioration of his relationship with complicated point guard Rajon Rondo.”

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  • http://wikipedia.org Eddie1

    Ray Allen like a girl who just left a rich old man for the younger hot stud.

  • allison

    cosign Allenp… come on, it’s an Adrian Wojnarowski article, he gets hysterical about everything

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Stupidity is rampant here.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Justin Gill

    OKAY SO ALLEN IVERSON SAYS HE DOESN’T WANT TO COME OFF THE BENCH IN DETROIT A COUPLE TIMES AFTER AVERAGING 26.4 PPG, 7 APG. AVERAGING 27 PPG FOR HIS CAREER BONAFIDE HALL OF FAMER AND HE DIDN’T COMPLAIN ONCE ABOUT THE COACHING OR OWNERSHIP IN DETROIT AND STILL LOST HIS CAREER? RAY ALLEN DOES THE SAME GETS A NICE CONTRACT FROM THE CHAMPIONS AND IS CALLED CLASSY FOR IT? IM NOT EVEN THAT BIG OF AN IVERSON FAN HE MADE MISTAKES BUT I HATE HOW HE WAS PUSHED OUT THE LEAGUE THIS PISSES ME OFF? SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPOSE THIS BLACKBALLING.

  • Jerome

    Classy Guy, that Walter.

  • DeeDre

    @Ez, i understand your stance but big difference…the Suns haven’t been competitive. Who criticized Bosh for leaving Toronto? They didn’t even criticize him in Toronto because they were going nowhere fast. The big difference here is the fact that the Celtics were a very big “family” team and have been extremely competitive these past few years. And making matters worse, he left to go to a rival. Sure, it makes alot of sense to go there, but you left a team and fanbase that still felt like they had a chance to win, and went to a rival. The same rival that knocked the Celtics out the past few years. It’s not like the Celtics got blown up already and he decided to leave as well. On top of that, we struck gold in the draft with Melo and Sullinger so we were very optimistic about the near future and bringing back the big 3. I’m in no way, shape, or form defending the Celtics or Allen, just stating my opinion

  • Donte

    Traitor. Retired jersey? Where? He left bc of relationships & disrespect not bc he wanted to win sucker.

  • MikeC.

    I just wish it wasn’t the Heat. Ray strengthens one of their big weaknesses (quality perimiter shooting). Hopefully they don’t get Camby too.

  • dave

    Jesus….Shuttlesworth

  • don the GSW fan

    i can’t wait for ray allen to drop 5 threes in a 4th quarter in a critical game in BOSTON sometime May next year.

  • js

    What a petulant cry baby. Can’t wait for AB to deny him the ball until he bursts into tears.

  • jsmallz

    Its dumb as far as the trade thing goes. Every player no matter what is tested of his value. Go on google type in any players name. A rumor or past talks of where a Player could have gone would be there. Fact is the trades never actually happened. Except for the failed one. Look at the first half of that season. It was down right horrible right. People were saying break it up. At the time you had to agree. Then the second half of the season happened and people stepped up on the green team.

  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    As a Celtics fan I would have loved to see Allen hang it up in Boston.. . With that being said it will take more than him going to one of the most rivaled teams for me to be mad at him, he’s done too much for the organization

  • Hobo Man

    Can someone explain the rift between Ray and Rondo? I don’t follow the Celtics closely, so I wasn’t aware of it..

  • Harlem_World

    I can’t see how Celtics fans can be mad at Ray. He gave y’all GOOD years and was key to getting that chip in ’08 and keeping y’all competitive. Thank the man for his service to the ‘company’ and let him go on with your blessing. Anything else is just classless. The ‘issues’ raised about him being disrespected are valid and you could see him holding his tongue for the betterment of the team during the season while having to deal with it all. That’s grown folk behaviour. This is a BUSINESS. Ainge did what he did when he had the cards in his favor, now Ray has the cards in his favor he is playing his hand as he should. I wish him the best. Playing with Bron and the Heat should extend his numbers nicely too as he’s going to get even more open looks. Teams have no choice but to double off of Bron and Wade on penetrations so he’s going to get alot of those Mike Miller/Battier looks and that is a PROBLEM.

  • Clydesays

    Still think Boston was the best fit for Ray. His game is running off screens and getting the ball delivered at the exact time and place he needs it. Who does that is Miami? Cole? Chalmers? I’m sure Rondo can be a d1ck, but he’s one of the best passers/playmakers in the game. Sorry it ended on a sour note. Thanks for all the 3′s Ray. You deserve the record and HOF spot.

  • Ernie D

    He wasn’t going to start next season in Boston. Bradley is the new starter, and JET is the 6th guy they wanted Allen to be.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

    Got a kick out of someone complaining about stupidity around here but doesn’t know the singular of grizzlies is GRIZZLY lmfao.

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    Got a kick out of an anonymous poster having to use the term ‘someone’ on an anonymous board instead of just using the handle of the person who made the comment. Grammar Nazi FAIL. Many sports teams have nicknames that don’t always rules of English grammar. The Philadelphia Phillies–whose players would singularly be referred to as a PHILLIE–are a prime example of this. Whether or not it applys to the Grizzlies is not my concern; if I erred it takes nothing away from any part of my comment. I’ve seen you start entire sentences with lower case letters, so either troll better or follow your online handle. FOH

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

    Charlie losing, get a life. People come to this site good or bad to post their opinions I’m not the one calling them stupid while making my own stupid mistakes. obv i was talkin bout yo dumbazz, and The “phillies” is a shortened version of the Philadelphias, which was switched from the name the Quakers so its not really a proper noun, since you want to use that as an example, try harder; try hard. and since you wanna talks about my handle , why don’t you choke on a handle or swallow your keyboard you pseudo-intellectual.

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    The guy who had my d#ck in his mouth coming on here to comment abouy my comment is telling someone to get a life? And my point still stands, troll. A single player is called a Phillie. You went throught all of that for what? Google didn’t help your point, jack@ss. It also doesn’t change the fact that you’re the same dude that just now figured out lower case letters have no place at the begining of sentences. This newfound Grammar Nazi bs proves you’re a troll. You’re still mad that you got trashed last time we did this. It’s a little effiminate of you to cyberstalk me on here. Like I said, troll better. You can’t tell someone get a life when you stalk their comments, loser. Btw, “phillies” should be Phillies. There you go again, troll.

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    Correction, you haven’t figured out that lower case letters have no place at the beginning of a sentence. “and since you wanna talks about my handle…” You can’t check other people’s grammar when you write ish like that. I’m not one to chastise grammar at all on a blog, but you make so easy to son your dum@ss.

  • coco

    No big deal that Ray is gone. Celtics may very well be better off without him. Bye Ray!

  • http://Jesush330@hotmail.com Jesus Cordoba

    Mr Jack Jarrett, think that you are living in a time when delayed, now basketball is more tactical and evolved light years from his thought which makes it slow to understand many things. Already be champions is not the elites of the past teams, but whoever best partly defensive and offensive, you have a mental problem which will not allow to develop his game as a player; but his game vengeful and force if there is any match with his team, to which this you are representing.
    Here have no excuses for their words, as other many players you has hurt that the Miami Heat team has been the champion of this year.
    Remember that basketball is just a game which move the appropriate tabs at right time as ajedres game.
    You have to prove to your computer is your talent and justify what it paid for which he was hired to play and be better than many more.
    Finally I want to be clear, if there are people who want to be in the Miami Heat for less money is because a big family in which there is a unification for a good common another Championship and a ring which is what I yearn for many players, because later demonstrate the game and not the language has been created.

  • http://foxnews Frank

    Allen is 37, has physical issues, made 3 of 7 free throws in the playoffs, got open shots because the guy that he disliked, Rondo, got him the ball for the shot he made and the open shots he missed and he could not guard his beautiful Mother and quick guards will take the ball from him. He is slow…

  • http://www.bleacherreport.com Coach

    Ray Ray, his wife, his child and his mother Flo will be welcomed and happy in Miami. The beaches are great, the weather nice and the fans are friendly not beer guzzling fouled mouth demons.

    He will not hear his name in trade talks and all he will have to do is what he has done his entire career….shoot when open and believe me he will be open. Spacing is the game.

    Glad for Ray. Truth: Allen was the only Celtic that showed class on the floor. KG is always cursing and wanting to be tough guy LMAO, Peirce a ex-Blood member who has bad knees now, Rhondo is slowly becoming a head case for all including Doc Rivers.

    Ray will get his revenge for for being dangled liek meat. He made the choice not Ainge and Boston…..good for him.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

    dumbazz i wrotes like that just to piss you off. and when I’m typing a comment on my phone leaving the first letter lower case is a choice because its not worth the effort to change it to a capital letter. Your mistake was a genuine mistake. your stupid @ss thought grizzlie was the singular to grizzlies.

  • Gmilly

    I’m not mad at Ray Ray. Even Robert Parrish went to Jordan & the Bulls for 1 last Ring in which he got. But at least Parrish left Boston to play with Jordan after Bird & McHale retired. That’s my only gripe with Ray Ray, PP34 & KG will still be in Celtic Green next season. So why let small Business BS ruin your bond with those 2 guys.

  • Rene’ Smith

    Leave Jesus Shuttlesworth ALONE ! He IS a class act !AND he’s gonna get another ring with the Heat ! Ankle spurs n all ! HA !

  • MajeztyRene’

    The Celtic have disrespected him and KG TOO ! And what happened between him and Rondo ? Never heard about any problems and there shouldn’t have been. Rondo is a great player but he’s still not THAT dude, not yet. He lucked up and got a ring because of Ray, KG and PPierce!

  • Dee

    The C’s tried to sign Allen to prevent him from going to the Heat. Ray Allen still has 3-4 more years in the league and in Boston, there are not enough balls around to feed the ego’s of Pierce Garnett Terry Green Bradlee and others. Being dangled for a trade is life in the NBA. No player should feel disrespected by that b/c there is no loyalty in sports, especially basketball. This amnesty clause are allowing teams to drop players to free up money. How loyal does that sound? At the end of the day, there can only be one champion. Both Boston and the Heat are favorites of getting to the eastern conference championship, maybe even winning it all. Ray Allen going to the Heat only makes the storyline that much better. Boston got deeper and on paper have a better team than this past years team…So Celtic fans, what exactly are you upset with? You can’t have em all. If Jason Terry comes in and put up the numbers he’s done in Dallas, no one will be talking about Allen. I think Ray Allen is a Hall of Famer and his desire to get out of Boston shouldn’t affect that.

  • millz

    why not win another ring???
    anyone would do anything to be declared a champ.. who cares about retiring your jeresy???? your name is forever remembered if your name is RAY ALLEN and if you think playing 5 years in a team means you get your jersey retired yous a fool… find me a player who played 5 seasons on one team and got their jersey retired

  • pinero

    his desire to be respected has gone out the window remember boston almost traded pierce to indy and had rondo going to golden state and they didnt whine and cry about respect they went out there and showed they wanted to be in boston and almost went to the finals WITH ray allen playing like below average ball

  • eo

    better off with jet anyway fk that weak biatch allen

  • celtics’ fan

    i don’t think ray is gonna be taken as one of the starter in miami.i don’t think ray allen is gonna be more respected in miami too! what is the point to do this silly decision and leave your fans in celtics meanwhile? rondo and pierce actually suffered the same from him but did they ever blame about that? ok let’s pretend that ray allen REALLY got disrespected in Celtics but at least he had his die-hard fans!! yeah it must be different for you to choose to go to miami. you would not only be disrespected by the guys in miami, but also the fans. i was ray allen fan, but from now on, no more.

  • ClydeSays

    I don’t fault Ray for wanting a change of scenery, but he started to break down in Boston & Bradley showed what a two way player could accomplish in that line up. He’ll have the same role in Mia that he had at the end of his career in Boston. Scorer off the bench. He’s a class act & a HOF’er and I wish him the best. Just not against Boston.

  • Shuttlesworth

    Jesus! I was upset that Ray Ray left the Celtics, but why stay where you’re not wanted? He’s still a class act! Kobe is about to retire & he’s not even close to 37, you should expect these guys to slow down at some point. As much as I don’t like the heat, I understand why he did it. Why not win a ship & rob it in’ the face of those who annoyed you?

  • Anthony

    I think loyalty is important, BUT these superstars (or once superstars) who makes (or made) millions from playing basketball should realize that this IS a business, first and foremost. Don’t get me wrong, I do understand the emotional side of the equation too, but again, this is just business….nothing personal.

  • http://www.facebook.com/qcollingwood Interdico Scriptor

    Kobe is about to retire? Have u heard something I haven’t??

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