Heat inks free agents

Associated Press

MIAMI

Ray Allen’s role in Miami is yet to be totally determined. And that clearly doesn’t bother the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter.

Allen and Rashard Lewis signed their free-agent contracts with the Heat on Wednesday, giving the NBA champions a pair of veterans who bring tons of experience and versatility to a lineup already featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

And both wasted no time saying they want to adapt to the Heat way.

“Whatever’s going to be best for me in this situation is going to figure itself out,” Allen said, flanked by Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra for his introductory news conference. “This team won a championship without me.

“I’m not going to come in and expect for coach to cater to who I am and what I do. I’ve got to make that work on the floor with my new teammates.”

Allen agreed to join the Heat on Friday, deciding to leave Boston after five wildly successful seasons and the 2008 NBA championship.

Lewis agreed to terms with Miami on Tuesday.

Allen will make just more than $3 million this season. Lewis will earn about $1.35 million from the Heat, plus another $13.7 million after getting a buyout from the New Orleans Hornets earlier this offseason.

“I’m at a point in my career where I’ve been on the All-Star team, played for 13, 14 years and I’ve made a pretty good amount of money over my career,” Lewis said. “Everybody sets goals over their career and my next goal is obviously to try to win a championship. The ball can’t bounce forever. I’m sure you all see the gray hair on my head.”

For Lewis, coming to Miami is a new beginning. For Allen, coming to Miami wraps up a month of unexpected twists and turns.

The Celtics’ season ended in Miami a little more than a month ago, with a loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. Allen was unusually emotional after that defeat, then insisted that even after an injury-marred season — he’s recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle — he has basketball left in his legs.

Boston tried to keep him, offering him twice as much as he’ll make per year in Miami. Nonetheless, Allen found himself drawn to the Heat.

“You come into the summer, and you don’t know what potentially can happen,” Allen said. “And you take the process a step at a time, try to figure out what’s best for you and your family. And here I sit.”

Allen said that Celtics coach Doc Rivers and general manager Danny Ainge were disappointed by his decision.

Allen said he reached out to Kevin Garnett — he was particularly close with Garnett and Paul Pierce in Boston — when he began leaning toward Miami.

Garnett’s responded by saying that he was sure Ainge would do whatever it took to keep Allen in Boston.

Days later, Allen was signing in Miami. And on Wednesday, Allen downplayed the notion that the move came in part because of a perceived rift with Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.