Allen will return to Heat

Ray Allen is returning to the Miami Heat next season.

Allen exercised his $3.2 million player option Friday, barely a week after the Heat finished off the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Finals in seven games. Allen made one of the biggest shots in Heat history, a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 of the Finals to tie the game and force an overtime where Miami ultimately prevailed.

Allen turns 38 next month, yet still played in 102 games during the regular season and playoffs for Miami.

Allen averaged 10.9 points in the regular season, and 10.2 points in the playoffs for the Heat.

KUPCHAK CLEAR HE WANTS DWIGHT HOWARD TO STAY

In words and deeds, the Los Angeles Lakers are making it clear how they feel about Dwight Howard.

The Lakers took the unusual step earlier this week of putting up billboards around the LA area with a large photo of the center and the word “Stay.” General manager Mitch Kupchak also addressed his feelings late Thursday night after the NBA draft.

“The message is simple: we care about you and we want you to stay,” Kupchak said.

Howard’s impending free agency has been prominent in the Lakers’ minds since their season ended.

Howard has vowed to make his decision in his own best interests, giving no indication he favored the Lakers over any other team. The free agency period begins Sunday.

Kupchak used the word “optimistic” to describe his feelings about what Howard might do. The Lakers can offer a maximum of $118 million over five seasons, and other teams can offer $88 million over four years.

CAVALIERS WELCOME BENNETT

Anthony Bennett wasn’t really all that interested in playing basketball.

Then, he decided to get serious about six or seven years ago.

“I just started growing,” Bennett said. “And everyone said, ‘You should probably play basketball.’ So I said, ‘All right. I’ll give it a shot.’ Look where it got me now.” Look indeed. Bennett was formally introduced Friday by the Cavaliers, who shocked the draft by selecting the UNLV power forward with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday night.

Although he wasn’t regarded by many as the best player available, Bennett was always at the top of Cleveland’s board. They scouted the 6-foot-7, 240pounder extensively all season, fell in love with his game and got rave reviews about his character.

“As we did our evaluations throughout the entire year, we just kept coming back to his ability and his talent and how it fit with our guys,” Cavs general manager Chris Grant said. “A lot of times, like last year, it’s just clear-cut. But for us, through the year, we always had him very high in our rankings and as we went back and reviewed the film and went on campus and visited everybody, we came away saying he’s a great kid. He’s willing to work and do the right things and he’s got a bunch of talent.”

BOBCATS EXTEND QUALIFYING OFFER TO HENDERSON

The Charlotte Bobcats have extended a qualifying offer to guard Gerald Henderson, making him a restricted free agent, but not to center Byron Mullens.

The qualifying offer of $4.2 million to Henderson will allow the Bobcats to match any offer he receives from another team.

The Bobcats decided not to extend Mullens a $3.2 million qualifying offer. Mullens, who played for the Thunder before being traded to Charlotte, becomes a free agent.