Ray Allen Leaving Celtics for NBA Champion Heat, Arison Says

Ray Allen is leaving the Boston Celtics for the National Basketball Association champion Miami Heat, Heat owner Micky Arison said.

“It’s 2:30 a.m. in London and I was just woken with great news,” Arison wrote on his Twitter site last night. “Welcome to the family #20!!”

Allen, who turns 37 on July 20, is accepting $3.1 million for next season from the Heat, half of what the Celtics had offered him, the Boston Globe reported two days ago.

Allen, who is first in career all-time 3-point goals at 2,718, can’t sign his contract until July 11. The Celtics then have three days to counter the offer.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net