To Chris, why do you like the idea of getting some "pieces" for Ray Allen? It'd be one thing if we were built like the Cavs with LeBron and a bunch of good players, but right now the C's have arguably a top 5 (and certainly a top 7-8) player at every position. While it'd be nice to have some depth for the regular season, what good will "pieces" be doing us come playoff time? How much is it going to matter if a guy like Blake is better than House if Rondo's going to play 40+ minutes? Similarly, how much is Pryzbilla going to help us over someone like McDyess if Baby's back and Perkins and KG are each playing 35 mpg come playoff time?
As I said above, it's one thing if you're a football team and need to field 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense, backups on both sides, and special teams and you want to trade a star for some "pieces." However, it's quite another when you're talking about a basketball team where you really only need a rotation of 8-9 come playoff time to win it all and you already have 5 very, very good players.
Sorry, I just threw out that general statement without explaining what I meant.
In general, I think the best value the C's can get for Ray, is if they can trade him for several very good players with more flexible contracts. I don't think the C's will be very interested in trading him for someone else with a big contract, that is longer than his, unless they are a MAJOR upgrade over Ray...which is hard to do.
So instead, they should be looking for a package where they can get a legit starter making a reasonable amount of money over a longer time, and one or two other rotation guys with shorter contracts.
Like I said, this deal as constituted is not a good deal for the C's, but if you change some of the parts, or throw in someone like Fernandez, then it makes more sense.
In general though, the type of deal I am thinking about is something more along the lines of Ray (and maybe a pick) for Caron Butler, Deshawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood. This way the C's get a younger player to help extend the window, while also spreading out Ray's contract slot to help fill a couple more holes in the lineup.
And no, I do not think a deal like that is likely, which is why I don't think Allen is going anywhere...but that is the type of deal I would look for, rather than one where the C's are taking on a big salary for a player not much better than Ray.
I see your point and it makes more sense, but I still disagree. Quite frankly, I don't think the C's will be able to maintain their status as an elite team unless they either a) keep Ray and Ray keeps playing like Ray, or b) they get someone else as good as Ray and who fits in like Ray (to me, a near impossibility). I just don't see how "pieces" help this team.
The scenario you posed with Butler, Stevenson, and Haywood might arguably lead to a better regular season than we might have with Allen in the lineup. A 2/3 rotation of Butler, Stevenson, and Pierce would keep everyone fresh, as would a 4/5 rotation of Garnett, Perkins, and Haywood.
Still, come playoff time, I think it makes us a worse team. In the last minutes of a close game, Haywood and Stevenson or Butler would be on the bench in favor of Pierce and Perkins. Thus, it again comes down to Ray vs. Stevenson or Butler; and particularly in a close playoff game, I think Ray wins out hands down. And against a team like Cleveland, Denver, or LA, I think we need that edge.
So again, I think it comes down to the only way trading Ray makes sense is if it's for another star who can fit in as well as he can. Unfortunately, I don't see anyone out there who really can fit that role.
Thus, I'd keep Ray. It's not worth risking winning a title or two over the next two years for the very, very long shot that we can find a player/players that can fill Ray's void now and a few years down the road.
Topic: R. Allen for Pryzbilla, Blake, and Webster (Read 30720 times)