Report: Ray Allen Commits to the Miami Heat

Ray Allen has sent a Heat wave through Miami.

According to Micky Arison, Managing General Partner of the Miami Heat, highly-touted free agent shooting guard Ray Allen has decided to commit to the NBA Champion Heat over the Boston Celtics.

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Its 2:30am in London and I was just woken up with great news.Welcome to the family #20!!

— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) July 7, 2012

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Arison, referring to Allen as No. 20, was the first to break the big news. 

Allen's decision was one of the most-followed free agent stories this offseason. It was clear that his two options were the Celtics and the Heat.

The sharp-shooting veteran had spent the last five seasons in Boston, winning a championship in his first year as a member of the Celtics. 

Allen, in the minds of many, is the greatest three-point shooter of all-time as he has made the most threes in NBA history, shooting from behind the arc at about 40 percent. 

The Heat offered Allen a two-year contract at about $3 million a year. Boston doubled that offer, but it seemed as though there was a better chance at winning another title in Miami. 

Allen, 36 years old, battled ankle problems this past year. He struggled towards the end of the season, and after the Celtics' season ended, he had surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle.

The Celtics may have hurt their chances at winning the Ray Allen sweepstakes by signing veteran shooting guard Jason Terry who would likely cut into Allen's playing time. In addition, the Celtics have a very viable option at SG in Avery Bradley. Allen would likely back up Dwyane Wade in Miami.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports added this about why Allen may have picked the Heat over the Celtics:

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The deterioration of Ray Allen's relationship with Rajon Rondo played a significant factor in his leaving for Miami, several sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2012"

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If Allen can remain healthy, this is an excellent pickup for the Heat as they refrained from giving up big money to a free agent who could be the x-factor in the Heat's pursuit of defending their NBA title.