Is It Time To Trade Ray Allen?

[steve]

This is not a fantasy league, it's the NBA ... you don't trade a player every time you lose a game. When there's a problem, you WORK on the weaknesses ... not get RID of them. Every time you trade someone, you throw a wrench into the whole chemistry of the team and roll the dice again ... this is a team that can WIN, and they've proven it. Now's the time to hone our strengths and improve on our flaws, not rebuild the whole team!

What if the flaw is being old?  How do we improve that?

[Bahku]

This is not a fantasy league, it's the NBA ... you don't trade a player every time you lose a game. When there's a problem, you WORK on the weaknesses ... not get RID of them. Every time you trade someone, you throw a wrench into the whole chemistry of the team and roll the dice again ... this is a team that can WIN, and they've proven it. Now's the time to hone our strengths and improve on our flaws, not rebuild the whole team!

What if the flaw is being old?  How do we improve that?

How is the flaw "being old"? Sorry, but I just don't get that. Ray is in the best shape of the last 10 years, KG is still recovering from an injury, and Pierce is in amazing shape, arguably moving better than he did two years ago when he won the Finals MVP. If you want to replace the "old" players, you'll need to replace Garnett, Pierce and Allen ... so what's the plan then? What other three players will you bring in to match the chemistry and strength of the Big Three? Sorry, but this team is STILL one of the best, if not THE best, and the "old" players are the ones at the core ... if the problem is that we're "old", (which it isn't), then we'd have no team at all. 

[xmuscularghandix]

Ray AND Rondo + Pick for CP3....---N.O. is crashing too.

CP3 isn't as good as advertised.

[CelticG1]

Ray is a good fit for the team now and will be a GREAT fit for the team after the season when he takes a pay cut to play for us. Unless you are upgrading from him I don't see the point in getting someone who is younger, at best a little worse than Ray and will end up costing you twice the money after this year. Even if we get someone who is equal value to Ray now (which I haven't really seen an option like this) down the road I would rather pay Ray less money for what he brings then over pay someone who will never live up to him in the first place

[CelticG1]

Ray AND Rondo + Pick for CP3....---N.O. is crashing too.

CP3 isn't as good as advertised.

Or I think it at least makes us worse this year IMO

[greenwise]

wow, just wow at this thread...

yeah, let's trade the Big 3 for Wade right now...jeez

[Drucci]

Ray was one of the few players tonight who actually provided consistent energy, and looked to attack the basket. Why the heck would you want to completely undermine the chemistry of this team, just because they've been out of sorts lately? They've gone through "down" periods before, longer ones, and they will again. You don't think of trading your core players every time there's a lull in the record ... they're still one of the best in the NBA, and if they had made two more tres, or gotten a couple more calls in their favor tonight, this would have easily been a win. Sorry, but we've become a bit spoiled here, complaining about an early 9 and 4 record, when with all the changes that were made over the summer, it should have been expected ... and most teams in this league would trade for our record in a second.

Agreed.

This is ridiculous, people just see Ray as an expiring contract right now, and don't care about his production. He is one of the rare Celtics to be really effective and to care about defense this season. He hit 50% of his shots last night and managed our comeback in the 4th, which unfortunately fell short. His stats from the game : 15 points, 5/10, 4/4 free throws, 4 rebounds, 6 assists.

What strikes me in this good boxscore is the mere 10 shots attempts. The problem with Ray is that he is not getting enough touches. Period. Involve him more on offense and we will suddenly look like an offensive monster, and the threads saying "I love RayRay" will pop up like the trade thread right now.

[Roy Hobbs]

Ray AND Rondo + Pick for CP3....---N.O. is crashing too.

CP3 isn't as good as advertised.

Neither is Rondo, which is why New Orleans turns that trade down in a millisecond.

[Roy Hobbs]

Ray is shooting nearly 50% on the season.  He hasn't lost it.  The entire team is out of sync; I don't think the blame should fall on one guy.

[ssspence]

Ray is shooting nearly 50% on the season.  He hasn't lost it.  The entire team is out of sync; I don't think the blame should fall on one guy.

I agree, and it's too early to panic. But if and when the time comes, it may need to be Ray that's traded to bring back the return we require. I'd prefer to try to get an energy guy through our expirings and Baby if the financials make sense.

[ssspence]

Ray AND Rondo + Pick for CP3....---N.O. is crashing too.

CP3 isn't as good as advertised.

Or I think it at least makes us worse this year IMO

Gentlemen, these statements are ridiculous. But NOH cannot traded Paul unless they're planning on moving out of New Orleans, so I think we can put this to bed.

[ssspence]

No.

Oh yeah, and Phoenix is laughing at this deal. They're not going to trade the player they just acquired.

Who did they just Acquire? Richardson has been there since last year.

Phoenix isn't doing it -- know that.

[HomeRunBaker]

Ray AND Rondo + Pick for CP3....---N.O. is crashing too.

CP3 isn't as good as advertised.

Or I think it at least makes us worse this year IMO

Gentlemen, these statements are ridiculous. But NOH cannot traded Paul unless they're planning on moving out of New Orleans, so I think we can put this to bed.

Or unless Paul demands out. The way things are going down there along with the questions surrounding the future ownership of the franchise up in the air with Shinn's prostate cancer.  Rondo, Allen, filler for Paul and salary filler?

[Spilling Green Dye]

-Phoenix would possibly do that deal b/c most of their moves are focused on saving money.

-I've been a proponent of trading Ray for awhile.  I have a feeling that most people in this post who want to trade him aren't thinking as a quick reaction to last night's game.  

-Ray's defense is subpar, and no he doesn't play hard D on every play.  

-Ray is not in the best shape of his career.  Sure, he may be able to run 15 miles in his best time yet, but he's not in the best basketball shape and he's been sharply declining.  Seriously, go check out Ray Allen clips from when he was in Seattle.  His ability to take people off the dribble, cuts, and lateral movement on D were all MUCH better.

-Ray is not the problem with this team, but trading him could solve some of the current flaws while addressing the future.

-So many teams are trying to cut costs, etc.  A trade of Ray, involving other parts, really could net a superstar or near superstar player.  

-The Celtics ability to sign or trade for future quality players is going to get worse.  Ray, and his contract, are by far the most effective strategy the Celtics have at this point.

[Fan from VT]

There's a time to trade anybody depending on what you can get in return.

Ray is certainly the most expendable player and the best salary relief, and I'd be in favor of taking on any deals that end on or before 2012 (KG's last year) if it makes us better.

Having 20 million of our budget tied up in a guy like Ray (no D, solid, if uninspiring offense) is not that good.