Ray Allen has the Knicks and Heat at the top of his free agency list

[clover]

1.  Knicks are loaded with guards and are already having trouble finding enough minutes for everyone

2.  The Heat have Wade, and Wade is not going to come off the bench for Ray.  The only reason I can see Ray leaving is because he wants to start somewhere.


Dallas and the Clippers are the only real possibilities to steal him. 

Dallas is unlikely because they have Terry who would take a big chunk of his minutes and all of his clutch time minutes (in all likelyhood the Mavs will have DWill and neither Ray nor Terry are playing the 3 with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter against LBJ/Durant/Gay/etc. 

The Clippers makes a lot more sense, but I'd still be pretty surprised.  That's a move on the other side of the country for a middling mediocre playoff team and I think they're just going to stick with Billups anyways.

I could see Ray going for length of deal above all at this point.  And just because the Knicks have (for some time) been rumored to be at the top of Ray's list doesn't mean he's necessarily at the top of their list.  But trading season is coming up and things could change for them too.

[Eddie20]

not to mention, the Heat have absolutely NO cap-room...the most they can offer allen is $3million

theres teams who can offer alot more...celtics included

Exactly. One team that does look like a good fit though, is OKC.

[illestmcsgt]

Well if Mannix is correct that Ray's gone. KG is going to retire, and Pierce will be dangled in a trade, then the Cs are going to be a very bad team for the next few years unless Danny does something stupid and signs a bunch of free agents from a weak class just because he has salary cap money burning a hole in his pocket.  

It will take 5-10 years barring a miracle to return to contender status since outside of Rondo, we have no tradeable assets that would get us any value and our young players haven't shown much except for Bradley who still looks more like a quality back-up than a starter after his offensive problems during the playoffs when opposing coaches included him in their game plans.

He was playing with a dislocated shoulder.... Try playing with a dislocated shoulder and see if you can shoot well.

[hpantazo]

not to mention, the Heat have absolutely NO cap-room...the most they can offer allen is $3million

theres teams who can offer alot more...celtics included

Exactly. One team that does look like a good fit though, is OKC.

OKC has no cap room either. They will need to amnesty Perk just to be able to keep Harden, Ibaka, and Westbrook.

[tonyto3690]

1.  Knicks are loaded with guards and are already having trouble finding enough minutes for everyone

2.  The Heat have Wade, and Wade is not going to come off the bench for Ray.  The only reason I can see Ray leaving is because he wants to start somewhere.


Dallas and the Clippers are the only real possibilities to steal him. 

Dallas is unlikely because they have Terry who would take a big chunk of his minutes and all of his clutch time minutes (in all likelyhood the Mavs will have DWill and neither Ray nor Terry are playing the 3 with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter against LBJ/Durant/Gay/etc. 

The Clippers makes a lot more sense, but I'd still be pretty surprised.  That's a move on the other side of the country for a middling mediocre playoff team and I think they're just going to stick with Billups anyways.

I could see Ray going for length of deal above all at this point.  And just because the Knicks have (for some time) been rumored to be at the top of Ray's list doesn't mean he's necessarily at the top of their list.  But trading season is coming up and things could change for them too.

Fair points.  I could see Ray leaving for a bigger contract if Ainge lowballs him, but a few things would have to happen.

1.  Ray gets offered way more years and money by another team
2.  Ainge really low balls him to a disrespectful point.
3.  The other team is a contender, or at least playoff team
4.  Ray is guaranteed a starting job.

not to mention, the Heat have absolutely NO cap-room...the most they can offer allen is $3million

theres teams who can offer alot more...celtics included

Exactly. One team that does look like a good fit though, is OKC.

They need to resign Harden and Ibaka.  They are going to be maxed out.

[Kane3387]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/ian_thomsen/06/10/celtics.offseason/index.html

Above is the link from an article that regards this tweet.

I think after reading this we bring the gang back together for two more seasons and align contracts up with Pierce's deal.

Miami is the only contender in the east next year. Unless Howard goes to NJ or the Knicks take the next step.

I think the Rose injury takes the Bulls out of it next year.

[jdz101]

I heard he was going to the Jazz. I also like to make stuff up.

[pearljammer10]

not to mention, the Heat have absolutely NO cap-room...the most they can offer allen is $3million

theres teams who can offer alot more...celtics included

This is a huge factor in what happens with the heat.


Ill believe this rumors when i see ray say it himself.

[action781]

Well if Mannix is correct that Ray's gone. KG is going to retire, and Pierce will be dangled in a trade, then the Cs are going to be a very bad team for the next few years unless Danny does something stupid and signs a bunch of free agents from a weak class just because he has salary cap money burning a hole in his pocket.  

I don't think Ainge will do that.  I think we'll either bring everyone back, or go into rebuilding mode.

They are not paying Rivers that salary to coach a rebuilding team.

Very good point that I hadn't thought about.  I wonder how much it will play a part in the offseason strategy.

1.  Knicks are loaded with guards and are already having trouble finding enough minutes for everyone

Another good point.  I don't see this happening either.  That squad almost defines a pretender and I don't see Ray thinking he could put that team over the edge.  And since they can only offer the MLE, I can't imagine Ray would choose that contract/situation over Boston offering him the same contract (which while I think he's declining sharply, would still be dumb for us not to give him that little).

[bfrombleacher]

He wants money I thought. For his family.

If he goes to the Heat, a part of me will die.

[lon3lytoaster]

Well if Mannix is correct that Ray's gone. KG is going to retire, and Pierce will be dangled in a trade, then the Cs are going to be a very bad team for the next few years unless Danny does something stupid and signs a bunch of free agents from a weak class just because he has salary cap money burning a hole in his pocket. 

I don't think Ainge will do that.  I think we'll either bring everyone back, or go into rebuilding mode.

They are not paying Rivers that salary to coach a rebuilding team.

They did 2004-2007. I don't think they mind Doc coaching the team in any cituation.

[ACF]

He wants money I thought. For his family.

If he goes to the Heat, a part of me will die.

Wherever Ray goes, he will always be one of my favorite players, on the court but also for how he carries himself off the court. Now, I know Charles once said that athletes are not role models but Walter Ray Allen is the exception to the rule.

I hope Ray comes back (in a limited role which, by the way, he already had when AB made the starting lineup) and retires a Celtic after next season. It would just be very fitting after this run.

Alas, it is not up to us but up to Danny. I just hope he makes whatever decisions are best for the Celts as an organization.

If Ray goes somewhere else, I'll still root for him, whether it's NY, Miami or even LA. Yes, I know, it's very unlikely at this stage of Ray's career but I just wanted to prove my point:
Ray Allen will always be a Celtic to me.

[action781]

Well if Mannix is correct that Ray's gone. KG is going to retire, and Pierce will be dangled in a trade, then the Cs are going to be a very bad team for the next few years unless Danny does something stupid and signs a bunch of free agents from a weak class just because he has salary cap money burning a hole in his pocket. 

I don't think Ainge will do that.  I think we'll either bring everyone back, or go into rebuilding mode.

They are not paying Rivers that salary to coach a rebuilding team.

They did 2004-2007. I don't think they mind Doc coaching the team in any cituation.

Doc's getting paid much more now than he did from 04-07