Ray Ray doesn't want to leave the C'S

[gift]

Is Ray still his own agent? I thought at one time he was.

[Jon]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

[Roy Hobbs]

People like to bag on Ray a lot lately, but I'd love to have him back next year.  He's definitely worth something in the $6 - $10 million range; it will be up to Danny to figure out exactly what that figure is.

[jambr380]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

Your last point was exactly what I was going to extrapulate on. Since they can't sign anybody else to anything more than the mid-level exception, who cares how much we sign him for next year. If for instance, we signed him to a 1-year/15-mill contract (which is obviously too much), we would then be in the market for a semi-star player making too much money on a bad team next year at the trade deadline- the same position we are at this year.

He would probably want more than a one year deal, but if we keep his future deal(s) at one year, but with more money, we will always be able to make a big trade including Ray. The only person that really would care about this is Wyc, but as long as we are in championship mode, he should be happy to spend the money.

[sk7326]

The good news is that Ray's virtue will play through his decline phase - he might continue to slip athletically, but shooting is shooting.  A two year, MLE sort of deal is completely fair.  Basically you cannot run deals past Garnett's.  Right now in three years only Rondo will be under contract principally - the Celtics want maximum flexibility.  The only other guy who might get extended past that deadline is Perkins.  

Could a trade and buyout to the Wizards for Jamison make sense?  Would give some duplication at forward, but if that came with a buyout, re-sign, obviously would be a big deal.  But I am not counting on that sort of bombshell.  

[Roy Hobbs]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

Your last point was exactly what I was going to extrapulate on. Since they can't sign anybody else to anything more than the mid-level exception, who cares how much we sign him for next year. If for instance, we signed him to a 1-year/15-mill contract (which is obviously too much), we would then be in the market for a semi-star player making too much money on a bad team next year at the trade deadline- the same position we are at this year.

He would probably want more than a one year deal, but if we keep his future deal(s) at one year, but with more money, we will always be able to make a big trade including Ray. The only person that really would care about this is Wyc, but as long as we are in championship mode, he should be happy to spend the money.

One thing to remember:  if you sign a guy to a one year deal and he has Bird rights, he's allowed to veto any trade.

[jambr380]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

Your last point was exactly what I was going to extrapulate on. Since they can't sign anybody else to anything more than the mid-level exception, who cares how much we sign him for next year. If for instance, we signed him to a 1-year/15-mill contract (which is obviously too much), we would then be in the market for a semi-star player making too much money on a bad team next year at the trade deadline- the same position we are at this year.

He would probably want more than a one year deal, but if we keep his future deal(s) at one year, but with more money, we will always be able to make a big trade including Ray. The only person that really would care about this is Wyc, but as long as we are in championship mode, he should be happy to spend the money.

One thing to remember:  if you sign a guy to a one year deal and he has Bird rights, he's allowed to veto any trade.

...and here I thought I had memorized your rules on salary caps and trades- guess I missed that one. I would have to assume Ray isn't the kind of guy to hold a grudge, though- and (as has been mentioned a million times before) if a team planned to buy Ray out of his deal, he could always come back.

I guess a 2 year deal is still more likely. He will still be very good next year and useful to this team. If the team decides to go a different direction after Ray's first year of his new contract (and Pierce's last year of his), then he should be extremely tradeable as an expiring.

[Edgar]

Rondo  Ty Lou
Monta  Ray      House
Pierce Daniels   Walker
KG     Sheed    BBD
Perk   Shelden  Scal ( how to leave him  out)

put the champagne in the freezer pleae

want my championship shirt in green

[Jon]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

Your last point was exactly what I was going to extrapulate on. Since they can't sign anybody else to anything more than the mid-level exception, who cares how much we sign him for next year. If for instance, we signed him to a 1-year/15-mill contract (which is obviously too much), we would then be in the market for a semi-star player making too much money on a bad team next year at the trade deadline- the same position we are at this year.

He would probably want more than a one year deal, but if we keep his future deal(s) at one year, but with more money, we will always be able to make a big trade including Ray. The only person that really would care about this is Wyc, but as long as we are in championship mode, he should be happy to spend the money.

One thing to remember:  if you sign a guy to a one year deal and he has Bird rights, he's allowed to veto any trade.

What about a two year deal?  I was thinking something along the lines of a 2 year 20 million deal that would take him to the end of KG's contract. 

[Edgar]

This shouldn't come as a shock.  I mean most teams anywhere near a title aren't going to be able to afford him.  And most teams rebuilding won't want him anymore than a year because they won't want him clogging up cap room if a younger star becomes available to him.  So it's pretty much Boston for what they're going to offer, a 1-year deal with a bad team, or the MLE with a contender. 

One quick thought, Ray at the lower figure possible might NOT be in the Celtics' best interest.  Paying a few more million a year could not only keep him happy, but also make his new contract more valuable when it eventually approaches its final year. 

Your last point was exactly what I was going to extrapulate on. Since they can't sign anybody else to anything more than the mid-level exception, who cares how much we sign him for next year. If for instance, we signed him to a 1-year/15-mill contract (which is obviously too much), we would then be in the market for a semi-star player making too much money on a bad team next year at the trade deadline- the same position we are at this year.

He would probably want more than a one year deal, but if we keep his future deal(s) at one year, but with more money, we will always be able to make a big trade including Ray. The only person that really would care about this is Wyc, but as long as we are in championship mode, he should be happy to spend the money.

One thing to remember:  if you sign a guy to a one year deal and he has Bird rights, he's allowed to veto any trade.

What about a two year deal?  I was thinking something along the lines of a 2 year 20 million deal that would take him to the end of KG's contract. 

I personally like it
specially if you can take it to the 16 mills territory

[Tr1boy]

Heres the problem guys and its bigger than what is the right worth for Ray at this point of his career. Lets say he was offered a contract of 8 million per year for 3 years. How would he feel about that compared to what KG and PP are/will get?

Do we in our right mind really believe a guy like pierce will accept a 3 year 8 million per year deal like Allen soon there after?

Theres no chance and PP is not much better at this point of his career and younger (actually in worst shape than allen).

Personally for me this is the last year i'd keep Allen and next year Pierce. If we could find/trade for suitable younger talents and at least surround them around Rondo and KG i don't care.

Last thing we need is to become houston post barkley, olojuwon era after this or next year

[snively]

Heres the problem guys and its bigger than what is the right worth for Ray at this point of his career. Lets say he was offered a contract of 8 million per year for 3 years. How would he feel about that compared to what KG and PP are/will get?

Do we in our right mind really believe a guy like pierce will accept a 3 year 8 million per year deal like Allen soon there after?

Theres no chance and PP is not much better at this point of his career and younger (actually in worst shape than allen).

Personally for me this is the last year i'd keep Allen and next year Pierce. If we could find/trade for suitable younger talents and at least surround them around Rondo and KG i don't care.

Last thing we need is to become houston post barkley, olojuwon era after this or next year

Pierce is a lot better at this stage: he's two years younger, he rebounds and passes better, defends far better, and he can score in more ways.  He's even blowing away Ray in the shooting categories this year.

Ray was the least of the big 3 in the first place (not that he hasn't had a fantastic career, Pierce and KG are just a little more fantastic) and he's declined sharply from his glory days. 

[Edgar]

Heres the problem guys and its bigger than what is the right worth for Ray at this point of his career. Lets say he was offered a contract of 8 million per year for 3 years. How would he feel about that compared to what KG and PP are/will get?

Do we in our right mind really believe a guy like pierce will accept a 3 year 8 million per year deal like Allen soon there after?

Theres no chance and PP is not much better at this point of his career and younger (actually in worst shape than allen).

Personally for me this is the last year i'd keep Allen and next year Pierce. If we could find/trade for suitable younger talents and at least surround them around Rondo and KG i don't care.

Last thing we need is to become houston post barkley, olojuwon era after this or next year

Pierce is a lot better at this stage: he's two years younger, he rebounds and passes better, defends far better, and he can score in more ways.  He's even blowing away Ray in the shooting categories this year.

Ray was the least of the big 3 in the first place (not that he hasn't had a fantastic career, Pierce and KG are just a little more fantastic) and he's declined sharply from his glory days. 

yet he probably only have one more year
hes looking slow
and streaky
and not dependable

to be honest

[Celticsbloke]

Heres the problem guys and its bigger than what is the right worth for Ray at this point of his career. Lets say he was offered a contract of 8 million per year for 3 years. How would he feel about that compared to what KG and PP are/will get?

I think Ray will be fine with it. He wants to stay in Boston and knows its basically MLE money to play for another contender or short term dollars to play for a bad team. We hold all the cards and he knows it.

So, wait until the end of the season and we will know:
1) If the team is still a contender or not
2) If Ray is starting quality on a contender, ready for a key bench role, or done (last one unlikely IMO)

Then (assuming Celtics are still contending and Ray is healthy) most likely scenario is for Ainge to put a 2 yr, $7-8 mill offer on the table as a marker and then let him play the FA market and see what offers he gets. If we are lucky, might even get him for the MLE!

Basically, Ray can't complain about $7-8 mill if no-one offers more than that. If he does get a bigger offer, Ainge should rightly let him walk with no hard feelings.  

Pierce will no doubt take up his option next season and thats fine, but Ainge can then do the same thing with Pierce in the 2011 off season as I am suggesting with Allen above.

Ainge is in a powerful position, so as long as he sticks to his guns, the Celtics will be in a good position to transition to the post big three era in 2012-13, either via trades or FA signings.  

[ForexPirate]

i would trade ray this year to try to re-load this team.  i would do the same with paul next year and Garnet after that.  Of course, I would make every effort to re-sign them.  I know this is blasphemy but I am pretty sure that Ainge is on record that the last big three should have been traded in their waning years so that we wouldn't have been so crippled for the next 20 years.  I think that is on Ainge's mind that he need's to build for the future.