Chris Webber said Ray will leave Boston this summer

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

But you aren't concerned with letting our only legit SG walk, while having no cap space and no real assets to get another legit SG?

Sounds like a brilliant plan.

i agree...so you let ray allen walk...who out there that they can realistically bring in is going to be any better? i don't see any

I agree, as well.  Ray is the third best SG on the market, behind D. Wade and Joe Johnson (neither of whom is realistically attainable by us).  I'd much rather keep Ray as a solid starter, rather than gambling on a young guy with potential or keeping Tony Allen.

I understand not giving Ray a three or four year deal.  I don't understand letting him walk no matter what.

[BballTim]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

  My feeling is that we need to bring in a sg whether we bring Ray back or not. And I don't really see re-signing Ray making it easier or harder to bring someone else in. When you do sign that new player, if you still have Ray you can still give Ray 20-25 minutes a game backing up Paul and the new wing. Essentially, you'd get a bump on your roster if you upgrade Ray and you/d get another bump on your roster by replacing TA/Daniels/House(earlier this year) with Ray for those backup minutes.

[bruinsandceltics]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

But you aren't concerned with letting our only legit SG walk, while having no cap space and no real assets to get another legit SG?

Sounds like a brilliant plan.

Walking blind ... definitely, walking blind. Wandering down a road with no clear path to an ending.

I have some concerns about that but not large concerns. I think between the draft pick, the MLE, minimum contracts and possibly a BBD trade the Celtics have some solid flexibility to acquire useful role players to seal up that hole.

Ray Allen, even at his age, is better than most "useful role players" on the market.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

  My feeling is that we need to bring in a sg whether we bring Ray back or not. And I don't really see re-signing Ray making it easier or harder to bring someone else in. When you do sign that new player, if you still have Ray you can still give Ray 20-25 minutes a game backing up Paul and the new wing. Essentially, you'd get a bump on your roster if you upgrade Ray and you/d get another bump on your roster by replacing TA/Daniels/House(earlier this year) with Ray for those backup minutes.

Who do you see out there that could supplant Ray in the starting lineup?

[bruinsandceltics]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

But you aren't concerned with letting our only legit SG walk, while having no cap space and no real assets to get another legit SG?

Sounds like a brilliant plan.

i agree...so you let ray allen walk...who out there that they can realistically bring in is going to be any better? i don't see any

I agree, as well.  Ray is the third best SG on the market, behind D. Wade and Joe Johnson (neither of whom is realistically attainable by us).  I'd much rather keep Ray as a solid starter, rather than gambling on a young guy with potential or keeping Tony Allen.

I understand not giving Ray a three or four year deal.  I don't understand letting him walk no matter what.

Now this is also true. If Ray demands a 3 or 4 year contract, then it may be a good idea to let him walk. Anything past KG's last year, unless it is a team option, is too long for our older players.

[bruinsandceltics]

I certainly think we should draft a wing that can take minutes from either Pierce or Allen. But I don't think there is anyone out there that we can realistically grab that is better than either of those two.

[Coach]

I'd give Ray a Two year deal, with a team option 3rd:

2010-2011 - 8.0 Million
2011-2012 - 6.5 Million
2012-2013 - 4.5 Million (Team Option)

Just for the record, salaries can't decrease more than 10.5% (of the value of the first year of the contract) each season.

Thanks for the info!  I knew that about the raises, didn't know about decreases.

Then something like:
2010-2011 - 7.5 Million
2011-2012 - 6.78 Million
2012-2013 - 6.14 Million (Team Option)

[shookones99]

again...of the big 3..ray allen my least biggest concern. i think ray can and will play at a high level for 3 more years. now i agree boston has to get younger at the 3 and the 4 as well as the bench...i would love to see ray groom a young SG to take over for him...but i worry more about PP and KG then ray

TP  Your not gonna find anyone playing at a higher level then the level Ray will be playing at for the next 2 or so years.

Of the big 3, Ray is easily in the best shape.

[BballTim]

I'd give Ray a Two year deal, with a team option 3rd:

2010-2011 - 8.0 Million
2011-2012 - 6.5 Million
2012-2013 - 4.5 Million (Team Option)

Total 19 Million.

This contract would almost guarantee He'd retire a Celtic, and be wearing Green when he brakes Reggie Miller's Record.  

Or we could trade him at the 2011-2012 Deadline for junk like Nate Robinson

6-8 weeks ago I would have agreed with this, now, I don't think so.

Ray, IMO, seemed to be effected mentally by the prospect of being traded away. It effected his game. What I saw as possible game decay due to age could very well have been mental fatigue and wear over the uncertainty of remaining in an area and in a situation that is perfect for him both personally and professionally.

Since his sit down with Danny and his wife, Ray's game has been different and his outside shooting touch has returned.

I think some of that is probably due to age but I am revising my opinion and now think it was mostly in his head. Once the deadline passed, he's been a better overall and all around player, playing , at times, some of the best defense I have seen him play in a Celtics uniform.

I say because of that his price has skyrocketed.

2 years - $24 million with a team option of a third year at $10 million.

  I don't know how much I'd go over what Kidd's getting in Dallas. Ray's not going to keep playing at this level forever.

[LooseCannon]

Given how Ray Allen has performed during the end of the season and the playoffs, has he made it more likely that someone is willing to overpay?  For example, can you see Miami moving Dwayne Wade over to PG and trying to split their cap space between Ray Allen and another player top player?

The Celtics need Ray Allen or a guy like him because he is probably the member of the Big Three who best complements Rondo on offense: a catch-and-shoot perimeter player who can nail a transition three.  Rondo may never be a good perimeter shooter, but that is greatly mitigated if he has a lights-out pure shooter to dish to.

[shookones99]

I think Ray Allen is pretty much a certainty to return.

I'm not sure I'm happy about that ... but that's the way I believe it'll play out.

I really don't get how that could make you unhappy.

I understand wanting to get younger.  But what would you prefer?  Just let him walk?  Sign and trade?

I see no obvious scenario in which losing Ray Allen makes us a better team.

I don't think there is any chance for a sign and trade.

So, yeah, letting him walk is the other option.

----------------------------------------------------

To repeat my earlier stance, I haven't fully decided whether or not I want the Celtics to re-sign Ray Allen.

I am seriously concerned about keeping another older player with suspect levels of athleticism, defense and rebounding.

  My feeling is that we need to bring in a sg whether we bring Ray back or not. And I don't really see re-signing Ray making it easier or harder to bring someone else in. When you do sign that new player, if you still have Ray you can still give Ray 20-25 minutes a game backing up Paul and the new wing. Essentially, you'd get a bump on your roster if you upgrade Ray and you/d get another bump on your roster by replacing TA/Daniels/House(earlier this year) with Ray for those backup minutes.

Who do you see out there that could supplant Ray in the starting lineup?

Aside from simply improving our starting lineup, I also think its hugely important to hold onto Ray as an asset.  He still has good value around the league.

Letting him walk for nothing will not only make us a weaker team on the floor, it will make us a far weaker team on the trade market.

[3ptAndOne]

I expect Ray will get some offers for 10-12 million per year for 2 years deal from other teams.  He was not traded at the deadline because the Celtics knows how important Ray was to the team. The Celtics have every intention of resigning him, but Ray has the final say. He will resign with the Celtics unless one of the team looking to sign a big name free agent this summer misses and give him a ridiculous deal.

[blake]

Webber also thought that Michigan had another timeout remaining.   

This might have been the funniest post I have EVER read on CB.  TP

[incoherent]

Playing good in the playoffs changes everything.

Ray has been pretty great and has had huge games for us, like last game.

I think we bring him back if we can.

[nickagneta]

If Ray is demanding three guaranteed years I think the team has to tell him that they can't do it because in 2012-13 they can't have him on the payroll. I would then tell him to give him a list of cities he would want to play in. The I would try to sign and trade him to one of those teams.

My guess is that it will be MOST likely that Ray would choose contending teams that are likely to be over the salary cap. If that's the case, Ray's best bet to maximize his dollars is through a S&T using the C's Bird rights on him to sign him at a deal above the MLE.