Ray wants to see where the big free agents land before making a decision

[Drucci]

Per Ken Berger :

Ray Allen will give the Celtics “every chance of re-signing him,” but has been in contact with the top-tier free agents and wants to wait until they choose a team before making a decision, a person with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com Monday.

Allen’s conversations with Celtics brass have been “productive and cordial,” the person said. But Allen, like other free agents, can’t have a complete picture of his value or the best situation for him until the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh decide where to sign. It is not clear whether Allen, 34, has spoken with those players, but a person close to one high-profile free agent said Allen has been in contact via text message as the Big Three try to assemble a supporting cast for next season and beyond.

“I don’t think Player X has asked him, ‘If I sign here, will you come with me?’” the person said. “It hasn’t been in any formal way, but they’ve been in contact.”

Allen also has received “general inquiries” from several teams, including those with significant cap space, including the Heat, Bulls, Knicks and Nets, one of the sources said. The Celtics have been informed that Allen would prefer not to make a decision until the so-called cap-room teams find out which players they’ll be able to attract.

With Doc Rivers back for one more season and Paul Pierce returning on a four-year, $61 million deal, Allen will feel tremendous pull from within the Celtics’ organization to re-up for one more championship run. But Allen is seeking a three-year deal, and could be presented with some intriguing options once James and Wade decide where to play. According to people familiar with their strategies, both players have prioritized recruiting a low-post scorer and 3-point shooter as they decide whether to stay with their existing teams or venture elsewhere.

No real surprise here... Ray is weighing his options and taking his time, it's the best approach he could take as a free agent who has several options on the market and draws a lot of interest for (soon to be?) contending teams.

I hope, however, that he will re-sign with the C's instead of joining a potential new Big Three or Big Two somewhere else. Hopefully Bosh, LeBron and Wade will all sign with different teams, thus convincing Ray to stay with the Celtics.

[MBunge]

With Pierce locked in for 4 more years, I don't see why a 3 year deal for Ray should be any problem.  Then maybe they can sign KG to a 1 year extension and start planning for the rebuild.

Mike

[celticinorlando]

i have a feeling that ray is going to bolt

[jarufu]

I have a feeling he'll get an offer he can't refuse!

[Change]

I think Ainge lowballed Ray. He probably offered him 2years maximum. Celtics can deal with 1,2 but not 3 aging player. The difference is Pierce 4 year deal ends when he is 36, Compared to Ray who turns 35 in july. Pierce played in 884, compared to Ray Allen 1022.

[hpantazo]

I think Ainge lowballed Ray. He probably offered him 2years maximum. Celtics can deal with 1,2 but not 3 aging player. The difference is Pierce 4 year deal ends when he is 36, Compared to Ray who turns 35 in july. Pierce played in 884, compared to Ray Allen 1022.

Ainge lowballed Pierce and Glen Davis last summer, and he still ended up signing them. I still think we keep Ray, he's comfortable in Boston and wants to be near the great hospitals we have for his son.

[RJ87]

i have a feeling that ray is going to bolt

In all honesty, I'm not too broken up about that. Love Ray, but we need to move in a different direction - especially age wise. My only hope is that somehow he allows us to use him in a sign and trade of some sort.

[Eddie20]

Here's the thing, no one knows when these discussions took place. If you're Ray the logical thing to do is to make contact with other FA's and explore options in order to have a fallback plan in place should Doc retire and Pierce sign elsewhere. In all likelihood, them returning has greatly impacted his decision to return to Boston. That said, I'm confident he'll be be back.

[MBunge]

Sign-n-trade to Cleveland for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

[RJ87]

Sign-n-trade to Cleveland for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

I like Jamario, but Williams does nothing for me... The only consistent thing about his postseason play is that he consistently disappears.

[Evantime34]

I think Ray is going to stay.

[wdleehi]

The key to me, Ray will give the Celtics all the chances to resign him. 

[celticinorlando]

Sign-n-trade to Cleveland for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

mo williams is a BUM...as is moon

[celticinorlando]

ray allen is a HUGE part of the cavs pitch to keep LBJ. They are telling him they will get ray allen as well as heyward...that would be brutal to see ray play for those bums

[CelticSooner]

I have a feeling he'll get an offer he can't refuse!

Most likely with the overspending on players we've already seen. I think if anyone offers him more than 3 years he's probably gone. I don't see Ainge offering him more than 2-3 years and rightfully so. This could end up being something similar to the Posey situtation.