Celtics Rumors: Danny Ainge Reveals Why Ray Allen Might Not Be Retired In Boston

Ray Allen opting to join the Miami Heat in 2012 could have a significant repercussion as to the Hall of Famer’s chances of having his Boston Celtics jersey retired, team president Danny Ainge said.

Ainge said Wednesday on the radio program “Toucher and Rich” that Allen’s decision to turn down a $12 million offer from the Celtics to join a star-studded Heat squad “will have some impact” to the organization’s state of mind whether to hang his No. 20 jersey to the rafters of Boston’s home ground, per Brad Sullivan’s report on HeatNation.com.

The 60-year-old executive, however, clarified that the final decision on matters such as a jersey retirement is not his to make, in the same way, he dismissed allegations of any personal bad blood with the legendary shooter. “I’m a big, big fan of Ray’s and I’ll always be grateful to Ray for the championship he gave us,” Ainge said before serving the disclaimer. “These are not my decisions,” Ainge said. “So if someone asks my opinion on this, I’ll weigh in at the appropriate time. But this is (Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck)’s team and he gets to make those decisions.”

The topic came about days after the Celtics announced that Allen’s former Boston teammate Kevin Garnett is having his number retired by the franchise during the 2020-2021 season.

Along with Paul Pierce, Allen and Garnett formed a formidable Celtics core that eventually gave the franchise its first NBA title in 21 years after defeating Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals.

"I'm honored and thankful to have my number retired with the Celtics. I will always have immense respect and appreciation for ownership, Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, my past teammates, and Celtic Nation!” an ecstatic Garnett said upon learning of the scheduled ceremony in honor of him.

As for Allen, he knew what exactly was in his mind before pulling the plug from Boston to bring his talents to South Beach – that is to win another title. His vision was realized as he helped LeBron James and the Heat win the 2013 NBA Championship, highlighted by the now-iconic Game 6 game-tying triple from the corner that saved Miami’s season.

The historic moment is already fixed in the books that no matter how Boston decides whether to retire his Celtics his jersey or not, it would not even coerce Allen to have regrets.