According to those close to Ray Allen, the Miami Heat forward may choose to opt out of his contract to return to Boston and retire a Celtic.

NBA on NBC Boston reports that Allen will opt out of the remainder of his contract with the Heat and sign a one-year deal with the Celtics this summer. The report, released via Twitter, cites only “people close to Ray Allen” as its source.

Last June, Kevin Garnett decided to stay with the Green, signing a three-year, $34 million deal. Allen signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the Heat, even though Boston offered him $12 million for two years and a no-trade clause.

“Garnett wanted to beat Miami, not join them. Allen apparently didn’t want to beat them, rather, just join them,” said Bleacher Report‘s Patrick Buscone. “This is a fundamental difference between the two men and that combined with the fact that they are now wearing different jerseys, has created this rift between the two of them.”

Re-signing Allen would be a nice gesture, but ultimately a tremendous mistake for the Celtics. Allen is old, and now more than ever the Celtics must focus on building and developing its young roster. Signing Allen to another year would only set this process back. If Rajon Rondo is in fact the future of this Celtics team, and Rondo and Allen have such egregious differences,  Danny Ainge must say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Besides, does Allen deserve to retire a Celtic? Sure, Allen was an integral part of the 2008 championship. But he accepted less money to join the Celtics’ most hated rival. As Allen left Boston he “dragged up three-year-old stories and anti-Rondo rhetoric, trotting them out in prearranged media interviews” writes ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. How could the team and its fans give Allen anything that remotely resembles a warm welcome?

Should the Celtics re-sign Ray Allen? Or has the window of opportunity slammed shut on “Judas Shuttlesworth”? Let us know in the comments below.