12:46 p.m.: Here’s your first look at Ray Allen with the No. 34 Miami Heat jersey.
12:42 p.m.: Allen texted Kevin Garnett after he made his decision to leave Boston.
According to Allen, Garnett pleaded with him to say, saying that Danny Ainge would get it done, but that obviously did not happen.
“I appreciate everything they did and it was a joy and a pleasure to play with them.”
He also talked about the nature of the conversation with Ainge and Doc Rivers after informing them.
“They were disappointed. They really wanted me to come back. We won a lot together in five years. It’s a lot of basketball and a lot of time spent together. They’ll like not having me around because they won’t have to pay me anymore when I beat up on them on the golf course. … They’re still friends of mine forever.”
12:39 p.m.: Allen says that LeBron James and Dywane Wade texted him in the process as well.
He said that the texts left his family impressed. It made Allen’s family feel appreciated, and he said it went a long way, especially given the fact that they had just won the title.
12:36 p.m.: Allen just spoke glowingly about his time with Pat Riley during the decision-making process.
“Pat’s a guy after my own heart.”
12:34 p.m.: Allen on his health: “I’m excited about it. I’m feeling really good.”
He also said that he was maybe a day away from having surgery on his ankle during the playoffs.
12:33 p.m.: Allen will wear No. 34 in Miami.
12:32 p.m.: Spoelstra: “Each player will complement each other eventually and it will become a real strong team. That’s what it’s all about.”
12:30 p.m.: Allen on being called “Judas” and the backlash from Boston fans: “I’ve given so much not only on the floor but off the floor. I think there’s a sense of sadness and hurt among them. We feel that as well as a family. That’s understandable. We’re still part of that community. We’re still in New England. That’s not going to change that.
“It doesn’t bother me.”
12:26 p.m.: “I’ll always remember Game 6 when we’re being beaten by 20, and the fans are chanting ‘Let’s go Celtics!’ I’ll always remember that.”
12:26 p.m.: Allen on deciding on Miami: “Change is not bad. You have to consider this. You have to think if this organization is going to be beneficial to the way you play basketball.”
12:24 p.m.: Spoelstra says that Allen continues to “strike fear” in the rest of the league.
“We’re thrilled to have him here. … There’s no question we brought him here to be a big part of what we do.”
12:23 p.m.: Allen, who was reportedly unhappy with his playing situation coming off the bench in Boston, seems more than content as a bench player in Miami.
He said that what’s really important is being on the floor at the end of the game.
“I go with what the coach needs or the coach wants.”
12:20 p.m.: Allen tiptoes around a question about his relationship with Rajon Rondo. Instead, he uses it as an opportunity to talk about his time in Boston.
“When we came into Boston together, a lot was put on our shoulders. I look back on all our times in Boston, we had a lot of disappointments, but we shared a lot of thrills. A lot of that is off the court, too. It is sad to me that I won’t be with those guys anymore, but I’m excited to be here.”
He was then asked with a follow-up question whether Rondo had anything to do with him leaving:
“I can’t say that it factored into my decision. As teammates, we were brothers. We have differences. We all have differences. That’s all part of who we are as individuals. At the end of the day we have to buy into what the coach believes is best for us.”
12:17 p.m.: Allen on Spoelstra’s coaching: “We share very similiar ideals, offensively and defensively. … I agreed with a lot of the directions the team was going in.”
12:16 p.m.: Allen: “It’s a step process. You try to figure out what’s best for your family. And here I am.”
12:15 p.m.: Here’s Ray Allen with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra to his sides.
Riley calls Allen “one of the most professional professionals the league has ever seen.”
12 p.m.: And we’re now expected to be getting under way at any minute after the Heat moved this up to noon.
Then agan it’s past noon right now, so who knows at this point.
11:13 a.m.: Ooook, then…
The Heat have apparently pushed back this news conference from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
That’s when Ray Allen will be introduced at least. Rashard Lewis will be rolled out first, with Allen coming in a little more than an hour.
Until then, here’s a photo the Heat tweeted out of Allen signing his contract with Pat Riley and the Heat.
11:08 a.m.: Nothing yet from South Beach, as we’ve yet to get under way.
Celtics fans will have to wait a little bit longer to get an explanation from Allen, and even then, nothing is guaranteed.
10:50 a.m.: While we wait for this show to get on the road, here is some Ray Allen reading for your enjoyment.
You can buy a Ray Allen shirt that makes fun of him >>
Allen reminds us that everyone wants to be pursued >>
10:20 a.m.: The rich have gotten richer.
The Miami Heat will formally introduce Ray Allen on Wednesday morning after locking up the veteran shooting guard to a deal last week. Allen’s departure from Boston left some Celtics fans feeling betrayed, and it will be interesting to see if Allen has any message for them on Wednesday.
It will also be interesting to see if Allen talks at all about how his time in Boston ended and why he decided it must come to an end. There have been various reported reasons for Allen’s departure, but he’ll get his first chance to publicly address those at the news conference.
Fellow sharp-shooter Rashard Lewis, who was a teammate of Allen’s when they played in Seattle, will also be introduced to Heat fans and the Miami media as part of the news conference.
That news conference will begin at 11 a.m. ET. Be sure to check back for updates.
