Maybe Wyc prefers letting Ray expire for non-championship caliber team

[Mencius]

We all talk about what should be done with Ray and his contract from a basketball perspective, but I believe Wyc's feelings used to be that he didn't mind going into luxury tax territory for a real championship contender.  He may now think that we are no longer of championship timbre, so he might just prefer to let Ray's contract expire, in which case it'll be a pretty grim couple of years around here if he then follows suit and does same with Pierce.  I suppose it would seem like the sun rarely shines in these parts until after Garnett/Sheed expire.

One could understand him going that route for a non-contender.  Just from a business perspective it'd make sense.  It would suck for us fans though.

[wdleehi]

I think Ainge has the freedom to do what he thinks will increase the title chances this year as long as it doesn't bring back long term bad contracts.

[RonnieG]

I love Ray, but he's replaceable, and at his age if we can get something for him we should.

[Mencius]

I think Ainge has the freedom to do what he thinks will increase the title chances this year as long as it doesn't bring back long term bad contracts.

That kind of removes trading Ray from the equation, since trading him to get better/younger players means taking back longer contracts (the only incentive for other teams to trade their young talent for Ray being his expiring vs their longer contracts).

[Jon]

Let's also keep in mind that the C's should be able to retain Ray if they want to at a reasonable price.  There aren't a lot of teams with money out there.  And those who do have money aren't likely to offer Ray Allen a long term lucrative deal.  It'll likely be midlevel money that contenders will throw at Ray.  As long as the C's are ready to top that, they can retain Ray.

And if they do re-sign him, they'll once again have on their hands (in a year or two) another expiring contract of some worth. 

[Chris]

I think there is absolutely something to this.  I don't think Wyc has tied Danny's hands here, but I feel pretty confident that if Danny cannot turn Ray into a VERY good player or two, Wyc has made it clear that he is not interested in taking on bad contracts for the next few years.

If they look at the team, and do not think they can win a championship next year, I think they could really go into cost-cutting mode, trying to save as much luxury tax money as possible.  And to be honest, I can't blame them.  I sure as heck don't want them raising ticket prices next season, just so we can watch KG limp to a second round exit. 

Danny is in a tough position right here, because they are really at a crossroads.  He can try to shift the deckchairs, and get a little younger, but he can't pay a premium for it.  And unfortunately, this teams championship dreams live and die with KG's decrepit knees, not Ray's expiring contract.

[Celts17Pride]

Guys relax, the reason Ray Allen hasn't been traded is because teams are not giving their best offers right now. Teams probably won't make their best offer until early next week.

Ainge is not going to trade Ray Allen just to trade him. If he gets an offer that makes the Celtics better Ainge will pull the trigger. I have no doubt.

[Chris]

Guys relax, the reason Ray Allen hasn't been traded is because teams are not giving their best offers right now. Teams probably won't make their best offer until early next week.

Ainge is not going to trade Ray Allen just to trade him. If he gets an offer that makes the Celtics better Ainge will pull the trigger. I have no doubt.

Oh, I agree completely.  I just am not convinced that there is an offer out there that makes this team better this year and in the future without it being cost prohibitive. 

[ssspence]

agree with chris. i'm as guilty as anyone of spending wyc's money in trade ideas, but i think the reality of the situation is we're all just going to have to sit here and take it with this group because of so much riding on KG's legs regardless of who is shuffled in and out around him.

here's to hoping the all-star break brings good health, less excuses in the locker room, less trash talk on the floor, and more actionable success in basics like rebounding and defensive intensity.

[Mencius]

Guys relax, the reason Ray Allen hasn't been traded is because teams are not giving their best offers right now. Teams probably won't make their best offer until early next week.

Ainge is not going to trade Ray Allen just to trade him. If he gets an offer that makes the Celtics better Ainge will pull the trigger. I have no doubt.

The point was more about if Wyc is willing to keep paying out going forward what Ray is presently making (which we'd have to take back in trade) if he feels this team no longer of championship caliber.

[ssspence]

Guys relax, the reason Ray Allen hasn't been traded is because teams are not giving their best offers right now. Teams probably won't make their best offer until early next week.

Ainge is not going to trade Ray Allen just to trade him. If he gets an offer that makes the Celtics better Ainge will pull the trigger. I have no doubt.

The point is: no team is going to call and offer us a better player than Ray + an exiring contract (example: Kevin Martin & Kenny Thomas or Luol Deng & Jerome James). If we're lukcy enough to see an opportunity at a good young player, it's going to come with a bad contract. Mencius is pointing out that Wyc may prefer to save the money over the risk that such an expensive deal wouldn't make a major difference this year. 

[Birdbrain]

Guys relax, the reason Ray Allen hasn't been traded is because teams are not giving their best offers right now. Teams probably won't make their best offer until early next week.

Ainge is not going to trade Ray Allen just to trade him. If he gets an offer that makes the Celtics better Ainge will pull the trigger. I have no doubt.

The point was more about if Wyc is willing to keep paying out going forward what Ray is presently making (which we'd have to take back in trade) if he feels this team no longer of championship caliber.

It's a valid point and not out of the realm of possibility.  I would hate it if they actually feel this way and my fandom sort of precludes me from thinking like that but, you can't argue with that type of logic with the way the teams playing.

[Brickowski]

Well, all of us would rather keep Ray as opposed to accepting a bad deal, but really, something has to be done to shake up this team.

Teams are jockeying for position now.  Everyone would like closure, but in fact trades are almost never announced until the day before the deadline, and some may not be announced until well after the deadline (3:00 pm next Thursday) since all deals are subject to league approval, and deals submitted just before the deadline are typically not approved until much later.

[Chris]

Well, all of us would rather keep Ray as opposed to accepting a bad deal, but really, something has to be done to shake up this team.

Teams are jockeying for position now.  Everyone would like closure, but in fact trades are almost never announced until the day before the deadline, and some may not be announced until well after the deadline (3:00 pm next Thursday) since all deals are subject to league approval, and deals submitted just before the deadline are typically not approved until much later.

Yeah, we are in the NBA dead zone right now.  The All-Star weekend will be used by GM's to get a final guage on the value of their assets, and then they will weight their options, and pull triggers on trades later next week.

That doesn't change the fact that I do not think the C's are interested in taking on significant salary next year and beyond if they are not getting someone who would turn this team back into a contender.  But the fact that nothing has happened yet, means nothing.

[Mr October]

I think there is absolutely something to this.  I don't think Wyc has tied Danny's hands here, but I feel pretty confident that if Danny cannot turn Ray into a VERY good player or two, Wyc has made it clear that he is not interested in taking on bad contracts for the next few years.

If they look at the team, and do not think they can win a championship next year, I think they could really go into cost-cutting mode, trying to save as much luxury tax money as possible.  And to be honest, I can't blame them.  I sure as heck don't want them raising ticket prices next season, just so we can watch KG limp to a second round exit. 

Danny is in a tough position right here, because they are really at a crossroads.  He can try to shift the deckchairs, and get a little younger, but he can't pay a premium for it.  And unfortunately, this teams championship dreams live and die with KG's decrepit knees, not Ray's expiring contract.

Bingo! There's the key. You can't win a title without a high quality big man (unless if you have the greatest player ever at guard paired with the best small forward of his decade).

Kevin Martin paired with Rondo in the future is not going to win a championship. The ultimate future goal will be to find the next great big man to pair with Rondo. Nothing should get in the way of that.

If Amare Stoudamire or Chris Bosh can be had, absolutely go for it. Otherwise I'll stick with our starting lineup and see what happens.