True or False?

[birdwatcher]

The Celtics aren't going to be hasty in trying to re-sign any players until:

A) Doc plays his cards
B) The top tier free agents sign

The reasoning here is this:

Ray Allen could go to Miami, Dallas, Orlando, San Antonio, or Portland and have a legitimate shot at a championship without being asked to play 40 minutes a game all season. He may not want to come back if Doc isn't here.

Depending where LeBron and others go, he could be an affordable short term addition to a championship calibur team, so why re-sign with Boston right away?

Pierce has says he doesn't want to be part of a team that's rebuilding and doesn't want to play for another coach. His dilemma now is: take $21mil next season and maybe not get the payout he wants in his next deal, or try to sign a 3 or 4 year deal this summer with a team that has a better shot at a championship (likely through sign and trade). Does loyalty to your team outweigh the reason you play the game, to win championships? Both Pierce and Allen want rings and could get them next year if they play their cards right.

The new coach could also determine what we do with our draft picks, like if we even use them this year. New Coaches will want to bring in their own guys, not just take what Danny hands them. Will they still be a defensive team, will they go young and run and gun like OKC...Seems like it all starts with Doc and where all the big names land...thoughts?

[JSD]

Allen and Pierce have maintained that they want to stay here. If Pierce Opts out, he'll likely resign with the Celtics for a long term deal with less annual. Hopefully Danny structures a heavily front loaded contract. 2012 could be a big offseason for the Celtics. Allen is a little trickier, I think the major concern the Celtics have is years not money. If they can't wrap him up for 2 years $20 million or less they'll be exploring.

[Mr October]

Ainge and ownership have had all year to evaluate this team's chances for next year. I think they have decided whether or not they will bring back the same team or not already. The off season hinges on Pierce's June 30th opt out and Ray Allen's status.

I think it is in the Celtics best interest to move on these players as soon as possible, so that they can make the appropriate pitch to the desired free agents before someone else beats them to it..

[rav123]

Pierce will (95% likely) stay a Celtic for life.

I think the max money Ray will get offered is around $8-10 Million a year. WE'll be able to match that, but I'm not sure we'll want to give him more than two years.

[More Banners]

The OP points out another perspective on the obvious:  If neither PP nor Ray are legit #1 options any more, their best shot at a title may be to break up and hitch on to whomever gets Lebron or Bosh (or another team with a legit closer/#1 option).

[JSD]

The OP points out another perspective on the obvious:  If neither PP nor Ray are legit #1 options any more, their best shot at a title may be to break up and hitch on to whomever gets Lebron or Bosh (or another team with a legit closer/#1 option).

Their best shot at a title is to stay here.

[birdwatcher]

Either Paul or Ray's best chance is Dallas, IMO. Chris Mannix was saying on WEEI today that Ray is looking in the range of 4yrs 75 Mil...That is just insane. He's turning 35 soon, and a contract like that would have him making 17-18 mil at the age of 39!! C'mon, no thanks. Reggie Miller was a better shooter and hit a few big shots at 39, but not worth THAT much money. I think the biggest detail we all may be underestimating is just how much Ray will want and for how long. They'll be no home town discounts. If NY or NJ doesn't land a big free agent and Ray just wants to get his last big nut, they could easily overpay him and he wouldn't have to uproot his whole family/life as NY/NJ is not far from here. If he wants a championship, Dallas, Miami and Orlando would probably sound pretty [dang] good. All signs do point to Pierce staying here after restructuring, but if Ray is asking for that type of money, what is Paul gonna ask for??

[Redz]

Either Paul or Ray's best chance is Dallas, IMO. Chris Mannix was saying on WEEI today that Ray is looking in the range of 4yrs 75 Mil...That is just insane. He's turning 35 soon, and a contract like that would have him making 17-18 mil at the age of 39!! C'mon, no thanks. Reggie Miller was a better shooter and hit a few big shots at 39, but not worth THAT much money. I think the biggest detail we all may be underestimating is just how much Ray will want and for how long. They'll be no home town discounts. If NY or NJ doesn't land a big free agent and Ray just wants to get his last big nut, they could easily overpay him and he wouldn't have to uproot his whole family/life as NY/NJ is not far from here. If he wants a championship, Dallas, Miami and Orlando would probably sound pretty [dang] good. All signs do point to Pierce staying here after restructuring, but if Ray is asking for that type of money, what is Paul gonna ask for??

If that's true then Buh Bye Ray, huh

[Mr October]

Either Paul or Ray's best chance is Dallas, IMO. Chris Mannix was saying on WEEI today that Ray is looking in the range of 4yrs 75 Mil...That is just insane. He's turning 35 soon, and a contract like that would have him making 17-18 mil at the age of 39!! C'mon, no thanks. Reggie Miller was a better shooter and hit a few big shots at 39, but not worth THAT much money. I think the biggest detail we all may be underestimating is just how much Ray will want and for how long. They'll be no home town discounts. If NY or NJ doesn't land a big free agent and Ray just wants to get his last big nut, they could easily overpay him and he wouldn't have to uproot his whole family/life as NY/NJ is not far from here. If he wants a championship, Dallas, Miami and Orlando would probably sound pretty [dang] good. All signs do point to Pierce staying here after restructuring, but if Ray is asking for that type of money, what is Paul gonna ask for??

No one on this Celtic team is worth $75/4. AS much as I want to make a run at a title next year, I don't want to do it at the expense of carrying lots of bad contracts for 3 years beyond next year.

Obviously Mannix, does this for a living, so he should know more than me.... but I can't see Ray or his agent honestly looking at that figure.

[Fred Roberts]

That would make Danny's decision very easy. Goodbye.

Everything stops when KG's contract expires (2 more seasons). Rondo is the only one that keeps rolling. The only folks who will be signed on for longer than KG's term will be young, low cost potential studs or roll players.

If we can swing some sort of miraculous trade for a younger guy, then that would be reason to go beyond the 2 KG years as well. Other than that, forget about it. We can't rely on Paul and Ray much longer. Neither should think for a second that they're worth more than the $11M per year than Rajon's getting. They should both be content with $8-10 over the next 2 KG years, and less than that afterwards.

[Andy Jick]

See ya, Ray!  Let someone else overpay for this guy.  Put a fork in him...he's done.

[wdleehi]

They can't wait for Doc. 


They have to pick a direction and go with it.


If Doc returns, great.


If not, pick the coach that best matches that direction.



Plus, what the Celtics do will influence Doc's decision. 

[ejk3489]

Either Paul or Ray's best chance is Dallas, IMO. Chris Mannix was saying on WEEI today that Ray is looking in the range of 4yrs 75 Mil...That is just insane. He's turning 35 soon, and a contract like that would have him making 17-18 mil at the age of 39!! C'mon, no thanks. Reggie Miller was a better shooter and hit a few big shots at 39, but not worth THAT much money. I think the biggest detail we all may be underestimating is just how much Ray will want and for how long. They'll be no home town discounts. If NY or NJ doesn't land a big free agent and Ray just wants to get his last big nut, they could easily overpay him and he wouldn't have to uproot his whole family/life as NY/NJ is not far from here. If he wants a championship, Dallas, Miami and Orlando would probably sound pretty [dang] good. All signs do point to Pierce staying here after restructuring, but if Ray is asking for that type of money, what is Paul gonna ask for??

Actually I think he said 5 years for 75 mil, which is even more ridiculous. I can't see his agent asking for that many years, not to mention the price.


http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2010/06/22/mannix-on-dc-i-dont-see-ainge-leaving-for-phoenix/

[Mr October]

They can't wait for Doc. 


They have to pick a direction and go with it.


If Doc returns, great.


If not, pick the coach that best matches that direction.



Plus, what the Celtics do will influence Doc's decision. 

Absolutely.

Draft the best player available.

Then the first big order of business is Pierce's opt out decision on June 30th. Then get a read on Ray (and Paul) immediately. If those guys really want to go for a tile next year, they will know that the Celtics need all their free agent focus for July 1st to begin recruiting for the next run. These next 2-3 weeks are critical.

[Lucky17]

Either Paul or Ray's best chance is Dallas, IMO. Chris Mannix was saying on WEEI today that Ray is looking in the range of 4yrs 75 Mil...That is just insane. He's turning 35 soon, and a contract like that would have him making 17-18 mil at the age of 39!! C'mon, no thanks. Reggie Miller was a better shooter and hit a few big shots at 39, but not worth THAT much money. I think the biggest detail we all may be underestimating is just how much Ray will want and for how long. They'll be no home town discounts. If NY or NJ doesn't land a big free agent and Ray just wants to get his last big nut, they could easily overpay him and he wouldn't have to uproot his whole family/life as NY/NJ is not far from here. If he wants a championship, Dallas, Miami and Orlando would probably sound pretty [dang] good. All signs do point to Pierce staying here after restructuring, but if Ray is asking for that type of money, what is Paul gonna ask for??

Actually I think he said 5 years for 75 mil, which is even more ridiculous. I can't see his agent asking for that many years, not to mention the price.


http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2010/06/22/mannix-on-dc-i-dont-see-ainge-leaving-for-phoenix/

I just read the linked article. This is what's said:

I’ll throw a number at you guys and it’s going to sound ludicrous, but it’s what a GM told me right before the start of the finals, that Ray Allen was going to start by asking for a five-year, $75 million deal. How ridiculous does that sound?

Notice that nowhere does it say that Ray is asking that. It's Mannix asking a single GM what he thinks Ray might ask. Huge difference.

Mannix then goes on to say:

I think it’s going to have to start at $10 million per year over three years. I think that’s the bare minimum that you’re going to have to pay to keep Ray Allen.

Well, which is it? 5 years, $75+ mil? Or 3 years, $30+ mil?