Ray Allen Backtracks on Criticism of David West

When asked about David West’s decision to spurn Boston and sign a better deal with Indiana, Ray Allen was highly critical of the Pacers’ forward. But he claims that his comments were taken out of context. From the Boston Globe: “Unfortunately, those comments were taken out of context,’ Allen said before an 87-74 loss to the Pacers [Friday] night. ‘I was speaking in generalities, and by any means I don’t know what his situation is or was and why he made his decision.’ West passed up a three- or four-year deal worth about $9 million annually with the Celtics to sign a two-year, $20 million contract with Indiana. ‘I wasn’t referring to him going for the money, or whatever his ultimate decision was,’ Allen said. ‘When it came out it disappointed me because it almost seemed as though I was bashing him for making a decision that was best for his family. I reached out to [a third-party acquaintance] – I read this article, and when I read it I was really [mad] because I don’t have anything against David. It wasn’t like he was the final straw or piece of this puzzle. It was a situation, if we can work, we can try it. The conversation I had with the reporter, we were talking about contractually, when guys were signing during free agency. I went through the same process: Do you sign for more money or less money? Sometimes you go after the money, sometimes you put your self in a position to make less money on a particular team. So those comments were made to look like I was driving him toward – by no means do I have any malice to him and his family. His situation, whatever he was going through, was best for him. He made the decision he saw fit for himself.’ Allen said he began communicating with West while playing golf in Augusta, Ga. ‘He was wondering, trying to decide how this whole process was going to work,’ Allen said. ‘There was no collective bargaining agreement in place. I just told him we would love to have him if we could get him. He had a home here – the same thing I told Grant [Hill].'”