Ray Allen is a target of both the Lakers and the Heat.
Ray Allen is a target of both the Lakers and the Heat. tombrady123.com

Despite putting up career-lows this season, Ray Allen is still a useful asset for any team.

Allen, who recorded 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game this season, was still impressive from behind the three-point-arc, despite his low output, shooting nearly 45 percent.

Now free-agent, the former All-Pro and future Hall-of-Famer is currently searching for a new destination, one where he will likely end his career.

There's still a lot of basketball left in my legs, I know that for sure. Allen told reporters. So it's hard to say what can happen, what may happen.

Despite winning the championship last week, the Miami Heat have wasted no time dealing with free agency.

They quickly expressed their interest in Allen, and the interest seems to be mutual.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Miami is not willing to pay Allen the money he can get elsewhere, but ultimately they can offer him the best winning situation available.

According to multiple league sources, there is mutual interest between Allen and the Heat. The most the Heat can offer is a contract starting at $3 million per year, which is known as the taxpayer's midlevel. Allen could get more money elsewhere, but the Heat offer an attractive portfolio that goes deeper than cash.

The Heat are the defending NBA champions and a season with them probably offers Allen his best chance to get another ring before he retires.

Besides Miami, the 15-year-veteran has also attracted interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, who are desperate for sharpshooter like Allen.

The UConn product turns 37 on July 20, and cannot expect to get the $10 million per year contract he had in Boston. If he is willing to play another year, and wants to be on a winning team, then he needs to take some sort of a pay-cut.

The Lakers, who are already trying to clear up some cap space by shopping power forward Pau Gasol, are willing to sign Allen at the right price if they can fit him in.

If signed to the Lakers, he most likely would not be a starter, but rather a utility player who can play well and ultimately play a lot from the bench.

In his decade-and-half career, Allen has accumulated nearly 23,000 points, and holds the current record for most three-point field-goals of all-time and also the most ever made in a single season.