Future NBA Hall of Fame guard Ray Allen hit one of the biggest three pointers in NBA Final’s history during Game 6 to send it to over time and help the Miami Heat win a championship. However, now Allen has the opportunity to leave Miami and opt out of the second year of his contract. The Heat would like Allen—the all time leader in three pointers made—to stay right where he is, according to ESPN.com.
"I put the bug in his ear in the shower after the game," Udonis Haslem, Heat forward and co-captain, said Monday, pointing to a chat he had with Allen after Game 7 on Thursday. "I told him, 'I'm not going to put no pressure on you. I'm not going to ask you what you're going to do. But just know that I'm thinking about what you're going to do.' "
According to Haslem, Allen didn’t really say anything in response. "I don't know if that's good or bad," said Haslem.
It’s understandable the Heat want to keep the championship squad together for another season. However, with the luxury tax penalties they will be facing, that may be difficult.
Currently, the organization is looking at penalties that span from $14 million-$28 million next season because they greatly went over the NBA’s salary cap. Next year Miami is set to pay out $80 million in salary obligations—a number that does not include the $4 million team option to have starting guard Mario Chalmers return to the team.
Head Coach Eric Spoelstra said the organization has already begun trying to convince Allen to stay.
"We think the ultimate recruiting pitch is what we just did," said Spoelstra. "But we won't take that for granted. There will certainly be communication between us and Ray. He was such an important piece of what we did. We think even if it was just that one shot, it was worth it. There were so many things that he provided. And he fit. His personality fit. His professionalism fit. He helped guys get better."
Heat center Chris Bosh seems a bit more confident than everyone else.
"He's coming back," Bosh said. "There's really nothing else to think about. We respect each other's space, but there's only one decision to make. So it's easy."
There was no question the fans appreciate Allen as he was loudly cheered at the Heat’s championship ceremony Monday.
"When I got here the first two weeks, it felt like I've been here for two or three years," Allen told the fans. "That's the kind of brotherhood we have on this team, on and off the court."
