Ray Allen

[WeMadeIt17]

I really think this is Ray Allen's last year as a starter for us.I mean i think Danny realizes that and will get someone for next year. It's just we really need a good young 2 guard. One that will be able to run with Rondo and our young guys. Or a vet in his prime that we can sign/ trade for. Thats why i would love to get Stephen Jackson. Someone who really could step in next year and move Pierce to the 2 and have Ray come off the bench. I just think after this season we really need to look for a younger two guard. The reason i bring this up is that Ray has looked old these first two games. I understand I love Ray and he is going to have some great games for us no doubt, And i think he will be good for this last season, but he has shown this first two games alone that he is turning the ball over a lot! Also doesn't seem to be hitting his wide open shots, and eventually he will. I am just saying lets look to the future and get a young or 28 to 30 years old player that could step in and start. What does everyone think?

[JSD]

I really think this is Ray Allen's last year as a starter for us.I mean i think Danny realizes that and will get someone for next year. It's just we really need a good young 2 guard. One that will be able to run with Rondo and our young guys. Or a vet in his prime that we can sign/ trade for. Thats why i would love to get Stephen Jackson. Someone who really could step in next year and move Pierce to the 2 and have Ray come off the bench. I just think after this season we really need to look for a younger two guard. The reason i bring this up is that Ray has looked old these first two games. I understand I love Ray and he is going to have some great games for us no doubt, And i think he will be good for this last season, but he has shown this first two games alone that he is turning the ball over a lot! Also doesn't seem to be hitting his wide open shots, and eventually he will. I am just saying lets look to the future and get a young or 28 to 30 years old player that could step in and start. What does everyone think?

I'm a big fan of Jackson's game too and think he'd be a perfect person to step into the Celtics starting lineup next year if things didn't work out with Ray (UFA). I'd also like to see Cleveland get blocked from acquiring an all-star level talent like Jackson this season as we use our expiring assets to nab him.

He'd be a nice insurance policy if Ray walked... If only money grew on trees.

[moiso]

I have no reason to think Ray isn't exactly the same guy from last year, and that guy was pretty good.  I say keep playing Ray and go for another championship.

[Donoghus]

I really think that Ray probably has another 2-3 years as a starter.  The guy can still shoot and he's not a defensive liability on the other end of the floor.  Health would be the biggest factor with him but I could see him pulling a Reggie Miller and being effective (and better defensively) as he progresses through his mid-30s. 

[Bahku]

I think Ray has got more than one good year left in him, and if he stays here until retirement, (which I hope for), I can't imagine that they wouldn't start him. He's a leader on the floor, a great passer, an amazing shooting threat from the floor and the line, and a core element of the "Big Three". I think we'll win the Championship this year and next, and I believe Ray will remain a starter ... he just means too much to this team on too many levels to have him coming off the bench. (I do understand your argument, though, and it's a very valid point. TP)

[WeMadeIt17]

Well i am not saying Ray would walk but just come off the bench. I think we need a younger 2 guard next year. I think he will be effective this year as a starter but not next year.

[Drucci]

Well i am not saying Ray would walk but just come off the bench. I think we need a younger 2 guard next year. I think he will be effective this year as a starter but not next year.

I really would like the C's to keep RayRay next year. Probably not as a starter but coming off the bench, for a reduced contract. It will depend on what he does this season.

But I don't like the idea of getting Jackson (he has reached the 30 years bar and's got a huge and long contract). And I think that Ray's performances were good in Cleveland and against Charlotte. Especially in Cleveland, since he missed some wide open shots against the Cats.

As for the turnovers... he's always done these bad passes, nothing new here.

[JSD]

To me it comes down to: Who would be the more effective starter next season Allen or Jackson? To me that answer is Jackson. He's younger, faster, better defensively and is close to equal offensively.

[wdleehi]

He is not young.  He is 31. 


He is not fast.  He spent more time playing PF last year then SG.  (Most of his time is at SF)


If the Celtics want to replace Ray, the player must either be better (Jackson is not) or much younger with the potential to match Ray.  (And I mean a player that can earn minutes now, but still has plenty of upside)

[Celtic]

Ray stays, they can sign him for less money next year, not get locked into Jackson's deal, and just sign a good swingman backup, just like they did this year with Marquis. Keeping Ray and adding a backup costs less and in my opinion, Ray is the better player.

[Spilling Green Dye]

At the end of this season I'm all for moving in a direction other than Ray.  At this point in his career he's not a whole lot more dynamic than Eddie House. 

Defensively Ray hasn't been fighting through screens too hard, and his lateral movement has been declining to a point that he's a relative liability on D.

Offensively he's not a direct playmaker, and he has pretty lousy ball call control.  He is a playmaker indirectly.  One thing he does do well exceptionally is move to the optimal spot behind the arc to force the opposing defense to move in a manner that opens up plays for other celtics players.

[Change]

I don't think Ray will leave. He's still 18-20 point scorer, and reliable 3 point shooter. Rondo & Ray top 3 backcourt in the NBA. 70% of Rondo's assists benefit KG & Ray. To me, Ray is the perfect compliment to Rondo. But we do need a young athletic 2 or 3. Maybe a Travis Outlaw? Now that we have sheed & Marquis at least another year, we shouldn't make any drastic change. Travis Outlaw is my guy. Rudy Gay would be nice, but too expensive for us.

[WeMadeIt17]

I would love someone like Martell Webster. Someone who can shoot and score the ball and would run run run with Rondo.

[JSD]

He is not young.  He is 31. 


He is not fast.  He spent more time playing PF last year then SG.  (Most of his time is at SF)


If the Celtics want to replace Ray, the player must either be better (Jackson is not) or much younger with the potential to match Ray.  (And I mean a player that can earn minutes now, but still has plenty of upside)

He's younger than Ray... Umm... so there is a correlation now between speed and position   He looks faster to me...

As mentioned before, Jackson would assume the 3 spot and move Paul back to the 2.

Also, what you posed as Ray's replacement is unrealistic because of our cap and draft position. Jackson is the best realistic option.

[Celtics33]

I'm all for keeping Ray, I love the guy. Gotta love what he brings to the team with the 3-ball. I just hope he bring his turnover rate down. He has looked terrible handling the ball so far this season.

I don't mind him shooting his way out of a slump. His turnovers hurt us way more. Atleast when he misses we have a shot at the rebound.