Closure is necessary.

In the most league-shaking free-agent acquisition of the NBA’s 2012 offseason, Ray Allen spurned the Boston Celtics to sign with the Miami Heat for half the money. Boston deserves an explanation for Allen’s departure from him, not “sources” around the league.

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld reported that a feud with Rajon Rondo caused Allen to snap and break up the Big Three. He tweeted:

There's truth to the rumor that Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo didn't get along in Boston, says source. That's a big reason Allen left for Miami.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 7, 2012

While Kennedy’s report is the consensus belief around the NBA, Allen wouldn’t admit it. David Aldridge of TNT reported that Allen denied such accusations at his Miami press conference. He tweeted:

Says "friction" w/Rondo not a factor. "There's differences. We all have differences. Paul eats corn flakes. I may not like corn flakes."

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 11, 2012

Allen played five years with the Celtics. Over that time span, he helped lead them to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two NBA Finals berths and a world title—his only world title. But that ring apparently wasn’t strong enough to hold the Big Three together.

If Rondo really is the pest that he's rumored to be, Allen has a legitimate excuse. But if his decision had nothing to do with Rondo, then why leave Boston?

To the dismay of Heat fans, in reality, Miami wasn’t that much more talented than the Celtics. Boston took the Heat to Game 7 with a second unit that had to be one of the worst to ever participate in a conference final.

By denying the Rondo rumors, Allen is saying that he chose to take his talents to South Beach for the lone reason that he believed the Heat were the better team.

If that’s what he wants Celtics fans to remember about his departure, he should draw far more criticism than LeBron James did when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers. At least James chose a franchise that was without a doubt superior to his previous squad—Allen barely upgraded.

If the NBA’s all-time leading three-point scorer screwed over the Celtics for a slight percentage boost at another title, loyalty is officially dead. Allen must man up and admit Rondo aggravated him to the breaking point, or he’ll forever be remembered as the biggest traitor in league history.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels