Must We Now Hate Ray Allen?

After five seasons and one championship ring with the Boston Celtics, Allen opted to take his unrestricted talents to the Miami Heat.

Gasp.

Not only did Allen spurn the Celtics, but he left them for a conference rival that eliminated Boston from the playoffs this past season. Oh, and he also did so at a discount.

But should we actually hate him for it?

There are plenty of facts and realities to consider, but the short answer is no. At this stage of his career, Allen did what was best for him.

The way the stars—literally, stars—were aligned in Boston, Allen would have still had an opportunity to contend for a championship. But Miami presents a different opportunity.

Allen will be coming off the bench for the Heat, but not behind a young Avery Bradley who ousted the future hall of famer from the starting lineup this past year. And while Allen would have had an opportunity to start while Bradley was on the mend, the temporary nature of such a role would have proven difficult to accept.

But that’s not all.

For the Heat, Allen now becomes that guy. Sure, Miami boasts the likes of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but Allen will be their go-to guy off the bench. The same could not be said of Boston, where perennial sixth man Jason Terry now calls home. It’s hard enough to be relegated to the bench, but to actually slip further down the depth chart can be severely damaging to one’s ego.

And even that’s not all.

Allen was almost traded multiple times during his last two years with the Celtics. That’s brutal enough to leave a bitter taste in any athlete’s mouth, especially a heralded star like Allen. While he could have pocketed a higher annual salary, the uncertainty of his standing within the ranks of the Boston organization would hardly serve as a source of comfort.

The point?

Allen ran his course with the Celtics. We can chastise him for jumping aboard a rival’s ship, but in reality, the Heat provide Allen with a legitimate opportunity to add a second championship ring to his resume. And if you have to detach yourself from an organization you’ve been devoted to for a half a decade, setting up shop on a contender is the best way to do so.

At the end of the day, Allen joined the Heat not because he felt the need to inflict pain upon the Celtics and their fanbase, but because they give him the best opportunity to play a significant role on team destined for a deep playoff run.

And it’s hard to hate him for that.