Ray Allen

[Chris]

OK, I am predicting it right now, either Perk or Rondo are used in a trade next summer to obtain a young SG who they view as Ray's replacement.  My money is on it being Perk.  And this site will explode with indignation.

Only if they cannot extend Perk at a reasonable salary. I think they'd try to do that before they trade him.

It's a lot easier to find a SG than a shot blocker.

That's the problem.  They will likely try to resign him next summer, but if he wants to get paid market value (he would likely get close to $8-10 million a year on the open market), I don't think the C's are going to pay it.  So if Perk does not want to take a hometown discount next summer, expect him to be shopped, so they can get what they can. 

I disagree with this.


It is much harder to find a good starting C then a good starting SG. 

As long as Pierce and KG are here, there is not a need for a top payed SG.

I think the Celtics can keep Perk and Rondo and reasonable contracts and add a star offensive player and a good second banana. 


And with NBA economy the way it is, teams have less extra money to throw around.  They will use it to make the bif splash.  The kind of splash that sells tickets.

As much as I love Perk, he does no sell NBA tickets.

So if they enter contract discussions next summer with Perk, and he is asking for $3-4 million per year more than the C's are offering, and doesn't seem willing to budge, do you think they will feel comfortable with him going into unrestricted free agency?  I certainly don't think so.  Either he will be resigned next summer for reasonable money (if anyone was going to take a hometown discount, I could see Perk doing it...but it still is a huge if), or they will at least dangle him out there to see what kind of value he has on the trade market.

You may be right though, that they wouldn't necessarily use him to get a SG...but I think they will at least see what they can get for him.

Let's not forget, they have Wallace locked up for 2 more years after this, and if they lost Perk, he could certainly step in as a starter, with them picking up a replacement for the bench.

I am not saying I want this to happen, I just think people should prepare themselves for the reality that it might have to happen if Perk is looking for more money than the C's want to give a player that is not a strong 2-way player.

[wdleehi]

OK, I am predicting it right now, either Perk or Rondo are used in a trade next summer to obtain a young SG who they view as Ray's replacement.  My money is on it being Perk.  And this site will explode with indignation.

Only if they cannot extend Perk at a reasonable salary. I think they'd try to do that before they trade him.

It's a lot easier to find a SG than a shot blocker.

That's the problem.  They will likely try to resign him next summer, but if he wants to get paid market value (he would likely get close to $8-10 million a year on the open market), I don't think the C's are going to pay it.  So if Perk does not want to take a hometown discount next summer, expect him to be shopped, so they can get what they can. 

I disagree with this.


It is much harder to find a good starting C then a good starting SG. 

As long as Pierce and KG are here, there is not a need for a top payed SG.

I think the Celtics can keep Perk and Rondo and reasonable contracts and add a star offensive player and a good second banana. 


And with NBA economy the way it is, teams have less extra money to throw around.  They will use it to make the bif splash.  The kind of splash that sells tickets.

As much as I love Perk, he does no sell NBA tickets.

So if they enter contract discussions next summer with Perk, and he is asking for $3-4 million per year more than the C's are offering, and doesn't seem willing to budge, do you think they will feel comfortable with him going into unrestricted free agency?  I certainly don't think so.  Either he will be resigned next summer for reasonable money (if anyone was going to take a hometown discount, I could see Perk doing it...but it still is a huge if), or they will at least dangle him out there to see what kind of value he has on the trade market.

You may be right though, that they wouldn't necessarily use him to get a SG...but I think they will at least see what they can get for him.

Let's not forget, they have Wallace locked up for 2 more years after this, and if they lost Perk, he could certainly step in as a starter, with them picking up a replacement for the bench.

I am not saying I want this to happen, I just think people should prepare themselves for the reality that it might have to happen if Perk is looking for more money than the C's want to give a player that is not a strong 2-way player.

Maybe.


But I still think it would make more sense to keep him till FA. 

At that point, Pierce, Ray and KG might be done.  At worst, the Celtics can use him as a sign and trade to kick start the new rebuilding process. 


I just don't see teams offering a FA contract so much more then the Celtics would for Perkins.  Not with the NBA economy going down.

[greenwise]

Ray isn't an all-star anymore, but he's still a very good starter.

Ray Allen is an All Star. Of course he is getting older but his game is even better this year. His ankles are finally healed and his conditioning is perfect.

In my opinion he should be extended another 2 years to match Sheed and KG's contracts.

[Jon]

Ray Allen is so important to what this team does.  In case people haven't noticed, not only has he continued to score like he has in other years, he's also picking up some ball handling duties.  More importantly, his shooting range frees up everyone else to drive to the basket.  Whether his skills are deteriorating or not, the fact that opponents know that Ray Allen is sitting on the perimeter makes them think twice (or three times) about doubling off him.  Plus, unlike someone like Stephen Jackson, we know Ray fits.  Messing with what could be history this year is just insane.

Extend Ray two years until KG's deal is over.  e

[Roy Hobbs]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

[Jon Niednagel]

Anybody have a guess as to what Ray would accept to resign? Now that Rondo is signed to an average of 11 million per year, I'm hoping Ray will take something around the MLE for a couple of years to balance out the salary structure.

[Chris]

Anybody have a guess as to what Ray would accept to resign. Now that Rondo is signed to an average of 11 million per year, I'm hoping Ray will take something around the MLE for a couple of years to balance out the salary structure.

I would be shocked if he took something that low.  I think the over under for him is around 3 years/$25 million.

And lets remember, there are going to be a lot of teams trying to rebuild really quickly this summer, and some have enough cap room for more than 1 max player.  I would not be surprised if one of those teams threw some extra cash at Ray to play next to someone like Lebron or Bosh. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ray is no MLE player, and to think we should offer him something around it is ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

[Jon]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

Exactly.  The team has two choices: trade Ray before the deadline or bring him back next year.  There isn't going to be anybody to replace him if he walks away. 

And given how good this team looks right now, trading him isn't a good idea. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

Exactly.  The team has two choices: trade Ray before the deadline or bring him back next year.  There isn't going to be anybody to replace him if he walks away. 

And given how good this team looks right now, trading him isn't a good idea. 

Sign and trade during FA is a more likely option than a trade before the trade deadline.

[Chris]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

Exactly.  The team has two choices: trade Ray before the deadline or bring him back next year.  There isn't going to be anybody to replace him if he walks away. 

I don't think this is true.  I think there are legit sign and trade options in the summer.  And there certainly are ways to replace him if he does just walk away...it just would likely involve blowing up the team a little more.

Ultimately though, I agree that the best route is to keep the core intact for another couple of years...I just am not convinced that it is completely feasible.

[Jon]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

Exactly.  The team has two choices: trade Ray before the deadline or bring him back next year.  There isn't going to be anybody to replace him if he walks away. 

And given how good this team looks right now, trading him isn't a good idea. 

Sign and trade during FA is a more likely option than a trade before the trade deadline.

Eh, I don't know about that.  I don't think either happens; however, Ray's large appeal to other teams is his expiring contract.  The C's won't get nearly as much for him if an opposing team is forced to take on a new contract for him.  

Plus, the incentive for the C's isn't necessarily there either.  Let's say that Ray makes wild contract demands next summer.  If the C's are going to try to sign and trade him, they're still going to have to give him that big contract and take back that much money from another team.  And who exactly are the C's going to get at 10+ million dollars per year for an aging superstar with a new long term contract?  

[Jon Niednagel]

Ray is no MLE player, and to think we should offer him something around it is ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

Maybe, if you are offering him a one year deal, but if you are offering a three-year deal it will end when he is 38 years old. How important do you think he might be then, and will he be worth much more money at that time? I love Ray as much as anyone and I want to see him retire a Celtic, so I would prefer they offer a long-term deal at a reduced rate. I don't think, however, I want to pay him 10 million a year when he is 38 years old. I think something around three years at 20 million (an average of about 6.7 a year) is far from a rediculous low-ball offer and still "around" MLE type money.

[Jon]

Ray is no MLE player, and to think we should offer him something around it is ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

Maybe, if you are offering him a one year deal, but if you are offering a three-year deal it will end when he is 38 years old. How important do you think he might be then, and will he be worth much more money at that time? I love Ray as much as anyone and I want to see him retire a Celtic, so I would prefer they offer a long-term deal at a reduced rate. I don't think, however, I want to pay him 10 million a year when he is 38 years old. I think something around three years at 20 million (an average of about 6.7 a year) is far from a rediculous low-ball offer and still "around" MLE type money.

I agree.  Personally, I'd rather see him get more money per year and limit it to two years.  2 years, 20 million wouldn't be bad.  He'll expire the same year as KG and Wallace.  Also, his 10 million plus Rondo's 9-10 million (the contract escalates) would mean that the C's really don't increase any salary next year (since Ray's making close to 20 million this year anyway). 

[Fafnir]

I think the team should do everything in their power to keep the core together.  That means bringing back Ray, and getting Perk signed, as well.  You'll always be able to find vets willing to come here for relatively small salaries (MLE and below), but you're not going to find a lot of legit impact starters. 

I'd be all for a two year deal for Ray at prety high money. If he wants longer it'd have to be only an MLE deal.