NBA Free Agents: Ray Allen Wrong to Criticize David West for Shunning Celtics

What's your motivation? Everybody's is different; thus, every athlete and subsequently, every free agent is different. Ray Allen should realize that before he criticizes a peer for a signing decision.

Let me say, I respect Allen as much as any player I've ever watched play. He stays in great shape; he is an awesome shooter and underrated in most every other aspect of the game. That said, he is wrong to call David West out for choosing the Pacers over his Celtics.

Surely, Allen is thinking about how big of an upgrade West would have been over Glen "Big Baby" Davis, the player he essentially would have been replacing. West's potential signing would have been even bigger in light of the heart condition that has Jeff Green out the entire season.

Much of what Allen said is likely coming from frustration. He looks at the age of his core teammates in Boston and the valuable pieces they've lost from their championship team (Kendrick Perkins, Davis and Tony Allen), and he knows how small the window is for another run. West would have made it so much easier to compete. That sounds like the spirit behind comments like this: 

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“Once it got down to the end, I think his ego kicked back in. He wanted the dollars. I guess it comes down to ‘What is a championship worth to you?’

“Think of all the guys who have made $20 million and could be considered one of the best ever, but they get chided because they never won. We [the Big Three] all had to do less when we won. We’re still taking less to make it work. But it’s worth it. No one can ever say to KG, Paul or me, ‘You guys never got your ring"

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Does Allen not realize that when his teammate, Kevin Garnett, basically engineered his own trade to Boston, many could have criticized his methods? Having tolled several years in Minnesota, he could have been criticized the way LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were for leaving their original teams.

Without that choice, pending free agency, Allen wouldn't have the ring he cherishes. Fact is, those that are not in your position can always say "well, when I was in that situation, I did this" or "you should have done this". It really is for no one else to say or judge.

Free agency is for that individual player. It is a reward for consecutive years of service. Whether Allen agreed with West for not joining him in Boston, it wasn't for him to criticize or demean. I'm sure when he is or isn't brought back by Boston next year, he will have more than one suitor, as he will be a free agent. The team(s) that doesn't get Allen will deal with some sour grapes.

Hopefully, they handle it better than Ray did.