NESN

Report: Ray Allen, Miami Heat Have ‘Mutual Interest’ in Deal

As the days pass from the end of the NBA season, it appears more and more unlikely that Ray Allen will return to the Celtics.

Boston fans were prepared that he might jump ship — just hopefully not to Miami.

Less than a month after the Heat knocked off the aging Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and got themselves a championship, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports that the Heat and Allen have "mutual interest" in the veteran shooter heading to Miami.

It's not the first time there's been speculation that Allen would go south, but this time it's more than a wish list. Windhorst was already drawing up figures on how the Heat could make a deal work, even with luxury tax payments due to the big contracts held by stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Miami already has two capable veterans on the perimeter in Shane Battier and Mike Miller, but Allen would be a significant upgrade. Miller is considered ready to retire due to injuries, his epic 23-point performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals notwithstanding. Allen is also likely to take less money at this point in his career, with the possibility of a championship once again providing the pull.

Allen has made sacrifices to join a winning team before, but he may have to forgo the special place he's earned in Boston's heart if he breaks up one Big Three to join another in South Beach.