Joe Zafian

Ray Allen, who first became a star at UConn, has decided to come back to Boston and likely end his career as a Celtic.

First, head coach Doc Rivers agreed to return to the team he brought all the way back from the depths. Next, Paul Pierce ended any speculation that he may leave Boston and jeapard No. 34 someday hanging from the rafters when he agreed to end his career in Beantown. And now the Celtics have solidified a the final component in keeping together a team that was one quarter away from winning its second NBA title in three years by agreeing to terms with former UConn star Ray Allen.

"Re-signing Ray has been a priority of ours this offseason and this move will allow us to stay at a championship level," said Ainge, the Celtics president of basketball operations.

The 6-5 guard set an NBA Finals record during Game 2 of the 2010 Finals when he connected on eight three pointers (including seven in a row). The former UConn star has made two All-Star appearances in his three seasons in Boston for a total of nine career All-Star appearances. Allen, a 14-year veteran, has hit on 39.2 percent of his shots from beyond the three-point arc (524-for-1,337) since joining the Celtics prior to the 2007-08 season and helping to lead Boston to its 17th NBA title. He became the sixth Celtic to record his 20,000th career point while wearing the Celtic green when he netted a three-pointer against Washington on Dec. 10, 2009.

"I am ecstatic to be back in Boston," said Allen. "I cannot wait to get onto the court and get back to work with the rest of the team in pursuit of Banner 18."

Allen, who starred with Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's 1998 film "He Got Game," is currently ranked second all-time in three pointers made and attempted in NBA history. He also is currently ranked 28th in NBA history in total points scored with 20,965.

Terms were not announced, but published reports have the two-year deal worth about $20 million.

"Family was first, winning was second," said Allen, who also has played in Milwaukee and Seattle over the course of a 15-year NBA career in which he has averaged 20.5 points and 3.7 assists per game. Between breaking into the limelight in Storrs with the Huskies, and likely ending his career in Boston, Allen and his family now have strong roots in New England.

Money, according to Allen, was the least important factor in his decision. "At the end of the day, financially I’m not worried about money," explained Allen, who turns 35 next week. "I look at being in another situation in another city, if another team ends up paying me more money, it almost ends up being whatever this team would pay me."

Earlier, the Celtics signed free-agent center Jermaine O'Neal to a one-year mid-level exception $5.7 million deal. O'Neal, a 31-year-old, six-time All-Star, averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Heat last season. He will join a formidable frontcourt rotation that also includes Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, who is recovering from successful knee sugery, and Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

The signing of O'Neal helps address the depth issue, which was affected by the defection of two-guard Tony Allen to the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that had cried poverty all season before earlier re-signing Rudy Gay to a five-year $82 million max contract. The Celtics are reportedly on the verge of re-signing Nate Robinson, who evolved into a key player off the Boston bench after his mid-season acquisition from New York, to take Tony Allen's place.

The Celtics will be returning to the XL Center for the second straight season when they host the New York Knicks in a preseason contest on Sat., Oct. 16. Game time is still to be determined. Tickets are currently available at the XL Center box office or through Ticketmaster.