Ray Allen: Veteran Sharpshooter Would Be Significant Upgrade for Miami Heat

Veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen would be a significant upgrade for the Miami Heat next season in their attempt to repeat as NBA champions.

According to NBA reporter Alex Kennedy, the overwhelming belief around the league is that Allen, who is a free agent will sign with the Heat this offseason:

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The general consensus around the NBA is that Ray Allen will sign with Miami. "Barring a change, he'll join the Heat," said a league source.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 27, 2012"

The 36-year-old shooting guard will turn 37 in July, and is coming off of a painful ankle injury that limited him in 2011-12 and for much of the Boston Celtics' 2012 playoff run. 

Still, Allen has more made 3-pointers for his career than any other player in NBA history. What makes Allen's 2,718 career 3-pointers even more impressive however is the fact that he is a career 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

That consistency from downtown is what has caught the eye of the Heat, who are looking to keep 2012 NBA Finals MVP LeBron James surrounded with weapons in the form of knock-down shooters.

Allen shot better than 45 percent from 3-point range with the Celtics during the regular season last year, but just barely over 30 percent from distance during 18 postseason games. The bone spurs in Allen's ankle also affected his free throw shooting, which had been brilliant up until the 2012 playoffs.

Allen shot just 71 percent from the foul line despite shooting over 88 percent from the charity stripe for his postseason career. It was Allen's worst free throw shooting effort in the postseason since 1999 when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Those struggles would become an afterthought in South Beach though, as Allen would transition from a feature in the Celtics' offense to a complimentary role player with the Heat.

Miami wouldn't ask Allen for 34 minutes a night, but instead some solid reserve time as a floor-stretching presence who could make teams play off of LeBron James' and Dwyane Wade's penetration. 

With the future of Mike Miller (who is struggling with bulging discs in his back) and James Jones (who is reportedly contemplating retirement) uncertain for now, the Heat could maintain their biggest advantage by upgrading their outside shooting threat. Ray Allen is far from finished as an NBA role player, and quality sixth man. Allen can still shoot lights out when healthy, and the Heat witnessed that first hand in the Eastern Conference finals. 

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