NBA.com writer feels it's unlikely Ray stays with the Celtics

[freshinthehouse]

I see no reason for us not to sign him to a reasonable short term deal.  It's not like we have cap room in the next couple of years, or a young SG that needs minutes.  And on Ray's side, he likes living here and seems comfortable with the team.  Some team would have to throw out a pretty big offer for him to leave.

[GreenFaith1819]

I believe we'll re-sign him. I don't see Ray expecting a Huge payday from us, and I don't see Boston trying to low-ball the man, either.

He'll get a decent deal from us and stay. I think a few teams may offer him more to leave us, but he will turn them down, and ride off into the sunset with KG and Ray, on their Green Horses.

[Andy Jick]

Funny...but I remember a few months ago (when Ray was slumping) there were MANY here who couldn't get rid of him fast enough...now people are wanting to sign him to one of those "nostalgic" deals where he gets OVERpaid.  That's a bad move...

One thing about Danny - he will NEVER pay too much for a guy just because of an emotional attachment or because he feels a guy deserves that final payment for services rendered over the last several years.

36 year old shooting guards don't get better or faster...they age, and they start to show their wear and tear.  I'm guessing Danny will have another love affair with Monta Ellis this summer and I expect him to change this roster up.  He won't let this team get old like the original "big 3" did - and he's said such.  So don't get too excited and think for one second that he'll sign Ray to a 3 year deal even at a reduced rate.

If this team doesn't get it done this season they won't next year either.  Danny is smart in that sense and he won't allow this team to grow old and wither away like it did back in the early '90s...

I love Ray as much as anyone...but it's time to cut strings after this season...

[thirstyboots18]

Funny...but I remember a few months ago (when Ray was slumping) there were MANY here who couldn't get rid of him fast enough...now people are wanting to sign him to one of those "nostalgic" deals where he gets OVERpaid.  That's a bad move...

One thing about Danny - he will NEVER pay too much for a guy just because of an emotional attachment or because he feels a guy deserves that final payment for services rendered over the last several years.

36 year old shooting guards don't get better or faster...they age, and they start to show their wear and tear.  I'm guessing Danny will have another love affair with Monta Ellis this summer and I expect him to change this roster up.  He won't let this team get old like the original "big 3" did - and he's said such.  So don't get too excited and think for one second that he'll sign Ray to a 3 year deal even at a reduced rate.

If this team doesn't get it done this season they won't next year either.  Danny is smart in that sense and he won't allow this team to grow old and wither away like it did back in the early '90s...

I love Ray as much as anyone...but it's time to cut strings after this season...

I hope Danny is smart enough to realize that the Celtics did not get old and wither away in the early 90's. In my opinion, it was the deaths of two young stars that started the demise, Len Bias and Reggie Lewis.  We should keep what we can and keep adding pieces.  We have a now and future star in Rajon Rondo, and a terrific Center in Kendrick Perkins to build around. Stars do get old and lose thier sharpness, but they still have plenty of smarts and skill left to influence, and inspire, younger members of the team.  Now if we lost Perk and Rajon we might find ourselves in another 20 year hole....

[Andy Jick]

If we lose to Cleveland (still a possibility) or Orlando (very much a possibility) any thought about being smarter won't matter.  It will be because we weren't talented enough...  That won't magically change next season.

[Who]

I would be very surprised if Danny choose not to re-sign Ray Allen this summer.

I think it is pretty much a lock that Ray is back next year.

[wdleehi]

I would see what a one year Ray deal, Davis and the 19th pick could be worth in a trade. 

[GranTur]

Celtics can't trade their 19th pick.

Ray either resigns for 2 years $16 million or 3 years at $20 million. Either option is good with me.

Celtics will hopefully get some great steals in the draft.

Our players have 2 solid years in the tank but financially it's incredibly difficult to add talent around what is already under contract for the team.

[FatjohnReturns]

The reality is Ray will get alot of other offers. I wouldnt overpay for Ray but if we cant match what he will get from other teams then what motivation will he have to stay?

Ray has been consistent and professional all year long and I think people are going to be suprised what other teams will offer Ray.

[wdleehi]

Celtics can't trade their 19th pick.

Ray either resigns for 2 years $16 million or 3 years at $20 million. Either option is good with me.

Celtics will hopefully get some great steals in the draft.

Our players have 2 solid years in the tank but financially it's incredibly difficult to add talent around what is already under contract for the team.

Yes they can.  It would be a player at that point, but they can trade that pick. 

[Chris]

Why does everyone undervalue Perk so much on this board? I really dont get it. He is one of the best defensive centers in the league... His stats may not show it, even though they are very good. He changes so many things when he is bodying up the opposing teams big man. He even gets props for his relentless from the other best centers in the league (Dwight Howard for example). He is much more important to this team than a lot of people think.

I don't undervalue him.  I know exactly what he is.  However, I also know that he is coming up for a new contract after next season, and they would likely need to pay him like a star player to keep him, rather than the excellent role player he is.  Given the makeup of the nucleus going forward, it would make it significantly more difficult for them to restock this team with the stars they need to be contenders again, post Big-3, if you have Perk on the books for $8-10 million per year.

So, if they can get a better building block, who is a two-way player for him, then they need to do it.  Otherwise, they will be choosing between losing him for nothing, or killing their cap, and setting themselves back a couple years in the rebuilding/reloading process.

[Brendan]

The problem is how much "less" will it take to keep Ray?  I honestly don't believe he's worth more than the MLE.  I know that sounds cold, but I don't want a 36 year shooting guard on this team next season for, say, 3 years and 12-14 million per.  I believe that's what it will take, and that's just too much money...

I like how you said a 36 year old shooting guard for 3 years.

Reggie Miller played 5 years ages 35-39 at a solid, but, not spectacular pace. I think they can live with that as a starting SG (especially one who can in a pinch play PG or SF) - when his skill set (great shooting) is so complimentary to Rondo's and is one that tends to maintain decline.

Again - it depends what choices and options there are - but I can't see Danny pulling the plug on things and going rebuild until after KG's deal. That being the case your options may end up being: sign Ray for a two year deal above MLE level or see him leave for a three year deal at MLE to a title contended. For example he'd be a great fit in ORL at SG with Carter at SF, or in CLE next to Lebron.

[Mr October]

Funny...but I remember a few months ago (when Ray was slumping) there were MANY here who couldn't get rid of him fast enough...now people are wanting to sign him to one of those "nostalgic" deals where he gets OVERpaid.  That's a bad move...

One thing about Danny - he will NEVER pay too much for a guy just because of an emotional attachment or because he feels a guy deserves that final payment for services rendered over the last several years.

36 year old shooting guards don't get better or faster...they age, and they start to show their wear and tear.  I'm guessing Danny will have another love affair with Monta Ellis this summer and I expect him to change this roster up.  He won't let this team get old like the original "big 3" did - and he's said such.  So don't get too excited and think for one second that he'll sign Ray to a 3 year deal even at a reduced rate.

If this team doesn't get it done this season they won't next year either.  Danny is smart in that sense and he won't allow this team to grow old and wither away like it did back in the early '90s...

I love Ray as much as anyone...but it's time to cut strings after this season...

The people that wanted to trade Ray Allen mostly wanted to trade him because they thought the expiring contract would yield a gem in return. I also think all along this blog realized that Ray is aging the best out of the big three, and his conditioning remains excellent.

Ray is still possibly the number 1 most dangerous 3 point shooter in the NBA. And we're not talking dangerous when wide open. We're talking about a higher level of dangerous. If you give him inches and a fraction of a second, he can get a great look at the basket from 3 point land.

His 3's, ability to score with either hand, conditioning, classy attitude will keep him in the upper crust of all shooting guards for a couple more years. Even now I think he is easily in the top 15 or 20 of all shooting guards. That will be hard to replace.

Also no one is advocating giving him 12-14 million per year. I highly doubt any team will go higher than 9 per for 3 years, or 10 per for 2 years.

Letting him walk for nothing to me is worse than resigning him for 2 years at half his current salary... especially considering how close the current team is to remaining a title contender.

[Andy Jick]

Think James Posey...  As I've said, Danny won't overpay.  He won't overpay for Ray Allen, no matter how much he does for the community or wants to stay.  The thing I love about Danny is that he always puts winning first, with an eye on Wyc's bottom line...balance is the key.  Some of us might not like that, but I trust him.  I believe he will have some VERY difficult decisions to make this summer - on Ray, formulating a bench, etc.

Count me in the obvious minority as one who believes Ray Allen will not be overpaid to be a Celtic beyond this season, and I'd say the odds are 40-60 regarding his return...  It's going to come down to two things: cash and years...

[Mr October]

Think James Posey...  As I've said, Danny won't overpay.  He won't overpay for Ray Allen, no matter how much he does for the community or wants to stay.  The thing I love about Danny is that he always puts winning first, with an eye on Wyc's bottom line...balance is the key.  Some of us might not like that, but I trust him.  I believe he will have some VERY difficult decisions to make this summer - on Ray, formulating a bench, etc.

Count me in the obvious minority as one who believes Ray Allen will not be overpaid to be a Celtic beyond this season, and I'd say the odds are 40-60 regarding his return...  It's going to come down to two things: cash and years...

You've said that Ray is not worth the MLE.

The Celtics were willing to give Posey a 3 year MLE deal in 2008. Are you saying that Ainge and company should think that Ray over the next 2 years should be considered a worse player than Posey in the summer of 2008? I find that hard to believe.

Ray is still a top 20 SG right now (and declining very slowly). In 2008, Posey was a top 40 SF... if that. Big difference.