Does Miami need Ray Allen?

[wdleehi]

It really looks like Miami needs to sign two big talent FA.  It doesn't look like Lebron is going there.  It doesn't look like Johnson is going there.



What does that leave?


Well, the 4 PFs.  (Bosh, Amare, Boozer and Lee)


And two Celtics swingmen. 


Now, to get Pierce, it would like cost them the max deal.  I don't think they want to do that with the Max deal they likely would have given a PF.



Then there is Ray.  They can probably grab Ray with a 4 year contract at 10 million a year and not worry about the Celtics matching. 


Ray would give them the third option.  Ray would give them a shooter. Ray would give them more championship experience. 


Miami right now is the biggest threat to bringing back this Celtics team for one more shot.

[Jon]

It really looks like Miami needs to sign two big talent FA.  It doesn't look like Lebron is going there.  It doesn't look like Johnson is going there.



What does that leave?


Well, the 4 PFs.  (Bosh, Amare, Boozer and Lee)


And two Celtics swingmen. 


Now, to get Pierce, it would like cost them the max deal.  I don't think they want to do that with the Max deal they likely would have given a PF.



Then there is Ray.  They can probably grab Ray with a 4 year contract at 10 million a year and not worry about the Celtics matching. 


Ray would give them the third option.  Ray would give them a shooter. Ray would give them more championship experience. 


Miami right now is the biggest threat to bringing back this Celtics team for one more shot.

My only thing is this: if the C's are going to give Paul 4 years, will they give Ray 3, and maybe even 4?  While that's gonna screw us in 3-4 years, not signing Ray this summer pretty much screws us next year and leaves us semi-screwed with Pierce in 3 years anyway. 

[wdleehi]

I think such a move would lead to all sorts of trickle down effects. 


The Celtics might not resign Pierce at that point. 


The Celtics might look to sell KG. 




I have no fear about losing Pierce to a higher offer.  The higher offers are going to come from team with no chance of winning .  As long as the Celtics offer is strong, he will be back.

[Drucci]

Ray to Miami makes sense but at which spot would you play him? Certainly not at SF or PG. So it forces you to play Wade as a PG or a SF which is not a good solution either... and bringing Ray off the bench would kind of null his contributions to the team.

[wdleehi]

Ray to Miami makes sense but at which spot would you play him? Certainly not at SF or PG. So it forces you to play Wade as a PG or a SF which is not a good solution either... and bringing Ray off the bench would kind of null his contributions to the team.

Wade as a PG most likely.  The ball is in his hand anyways. 

[Drucci]

Ray to Miami makes sense but at which spot would you play him? Certainly not at SF or PG. So it forces you to play Wade as a PG or a SF which is not a good solution either... and bringing Ray off the bench would kind of null his contributions to the team.

Wade as a PG most likely.  The ball is in his hand anyways. 

Yeah, I guess it makes the most sense. Plus it would probably give him the height advantage on his opponent and he is quick enough to stay with fast point guards.

[wdleehi]

Ray to Miami makes sense but at which spot would you play him? Certainly not at SF or PG. So it forces you to play Wade as a PG or a SF which is not a good solution either... and bringing Ray off the bench would kind of null his contributions to the team.

Wade as a PG most likely.  The ball is in his hand anyways. 

Yeah, I guess it makes the most sense. Plus it would probably give him the height advantage on his opponent and he is quick enough to stay with fast point guards.

It has worked in the past
(Magic/Scott,  Jordon/Harper)

[boscel33]

i think the more obvious question is, does lebron need ray?

[BballTim]

  What's Wade going to play, pg of sf? Who plays the other spot, or center for that matter? That team's so lacking in depth that they'll need big minutes from whoever they sign. I don't know that Ray's that guy.

[BballTim]

  Also, some of these teams have pared down their roster so far that they might need a year or two to re-stock it. Ray doesn't have that much gas left in the tank.

[wdleehi]

First two parts are in place.


After we here Lebron's decision, (if it is not Miami), does Miami put a full court press on Ray?  He is the shooter they need to spread the floor?


Or do they overpay for Reddick or Marrow? 



I think they go Ray still.  He is still the better overall player.

[More Banners]

Miami doesn't need him, but Chicago sure does.  Missing out on the top tier FA's, Chicago can still load up their roster.  As we all know, they have a top scoring PG in Rose, a hustle big in Noah, and a good, long wing defender in Deng.  They have the money to land a talented SG and PF and win now.  Ray is probably the top SG available right now, and would be deadly on that team if they also picked up Boozer or David Lee.  They'd be a top team for the next 3 years or so, easily, with a Rose/Ray/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting 5, and could handle Orlando, Miami, Cleveland, and give us a run for it.  Definite contenders.

[wdleehi]

Miami doesn't need him, but Chicago sure does.  Missing out on the top tier FA's, Chicago can still load up their roster.  As we all know, they have a top scoring PG in Rose, a hustle big in Noah, and a good, long wing defender in Deng.  They have the money to land a talented SG and PF and win now.  Ray is probably the top SG available right now, and would be deadly on that team if they also picked up Boozer or David Lee.  They'd be a top team for the next 3 years or so, easily, with a Rose/Ray/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting 5, and could handle Orlando, Miami, Cleveland, and give us a run for it.  Definite contenders.

Of course they need him.  They have Wade (a driver) and Bosh (inside game).  They need the guys they can kick out to and bury the open three (after watching the Heat miss them over and over last year in the playoffs)

Floor spreaders are needed.

[wiley]

I don't think losing Ray is an automatic Celtics trainwreck.  Well, yes, if he just signs and we get nothing back that would be a blow to our chances....

But you never know how things will go.....what could happen in Ray's absence is that Pierce ups his offensive output back to pre big-3 levels (not same level but in that direction) and we get a defender (Ronnie Brewer) in his place.....and a pure shooter off the bench (more minutes for Nate Robinson at the 2, for example)

It's not a slam dunk that we suck without Ray.

[Jon Niednagel]

Yup, I think the Cs will have a fight on their hands for Ray's services.