3 Western Conference Playoff teams very interested in Tony Allen

[Lucky17]

Question: what is the most we can resign Allen to, without using our own MLE?

Is it starting at $3.125 million (125% of his current year salary of $2.5 million), or do we have Bird Rights that allow us to offer more?

They have his bird rights. Danny can offer him anything.

Excellent. If someone does throw the MLE at Tony, we could use him in a sign and trade to net some additional help, without using up our own MLE.

[Brendan]

I think Tony could be a starter - he's got offensive skills (offensive rebounding, finishing at the rim, decent passer) he's just limited (bad jumper, not great ball handler). If Rondo could shoot, he'd be able to start next to Rondo - but you can't (usually) have no shooting at either guard and still win.

I think Utah would be a great fit, since Deron has to defend the better guard right now. Deron has enough shooting ability to keep teams honest and he can create opportunities for Tony as a second or third fit. If Sheed is really retiring (and would take a buyout), you could do some interesting things with a S&T of Tony, plus Sheed, plus either Baby or Perk. Utah could get Perk and Tony let Sheed retire and maybe realign their rotation to get past LAL. Plus the thought of Tony and Perk in SLC makes me laugh. (Based on my impression of SLC from the HBO show.)

What about Sheed, Baby/Perk (depending on if they keep Boozer), and TA for AK47? Sure AK47 is overpaid, but he'd be a great combo forward playing with KG and Pierce. We'd have to bring in a center with the MLE, but something like:

MLE / Baby
KG / AK47
AK47 /Pierce
Ray Allen / Pierce
Rondo / Nate

could work as a rotation (assumes team and Pierce can handle the move to the bench. You'd also have a lot of flexibility (pressing, running, playing big, playing small.)

[Mr October]

MLE signings (or under) rarely involve sign and trade deals. I wouldn't bank on anything like that for Tony.

If it happens great. But the odds are against it happening.

I still see tony as a 3 million per year tops kind of player. He's found a great role for himself on the Celtics, but he has too many limitations in his game to be relied on for more then 15-20 minutes per game.

[Brendan]

If Sheed is expiring there could be a lot of value in a S&T for a team that wants TA below the MLE.

1. They could retain MLE for their own uses.
2. They could clear a salary they don't want.

The other issue is if TA gets too much of a raise, he'd become a BYC guy, and that would make matching salaries harder, but not impossible.

[2short]

If so, another sign and trade candidate has arrived.

yep and ainge can work some magic!
I'd keep tony at a price but bad tony is still present so no need to overpay

[birdwatcher]

Let Tony go. He's a solid defender and a hell of an athlete. But, he can't stay on the floor for three reasons--he's injury prone, he gets into foul trouble, and he's a liability on offense. He needs to be on a team that doesn't need him to score when he sees minutes. He could be a superb role player on another team. It probably shouldn't be on the C's, cause we need someone who can give Paul and Ray some time on the bench without having to worry while he's out there. He goes through phases when he's a turnover machine, too.