Would you consider this if Ray Allen signs elsewhere?

[Brendan]

I think calling TMac an Iverson is wrong. Even then I think the criticism of Iverson is over the top.

For TMac when he was healthy he was a team player, check out his pure point or assit numbers, and his defense was solid. If you could get 80% of that TMac for the Vet Min - then you'd be committing larceny.

For Iverson - the dude is 5'11" and ran his body through the ringer for those Philly teams. I have a hard time killing him over that. I don't think he's suited to our current team even if he was capable of playing, but he is not.

[nickagneta]

personally, i don't believe it's if, but when.  james resigns with cleveland and gets ray to join him there.  that's my thoughts.  we should have traded ray at the deadline!  who's to say that we don't go that far with what we got for him?

If Ray goes to Cleveland he's doing so at the MLE of $5.5 million per year for 3 years plus raises. That's a 3 year deal for approximately $17.5 million at the most. The Celtics can give him double that amount per year and still save a boat load of money over what they paid him last year. The Knicks, Nets and Clippers, teams that look to be possibly shut out on the big name guys could offer him a max contract for three years.

Why would Ray run to Cleveland to play with LeBron at so little money when he can stay put at much more and probably have just as good a chance at a title? Why would he go to Cleveland if leaving Boston is what he wants to do when there will be other spots he can land and make nearly three times the money?

If Ray wants to go to Cleveland and wants to do it for more than MLE money, the Celtics should say yes and ask for Anderson Varejao in return.

[GreenEnvy]

With how many roster spots we have to fill out it couldn't hurt. If we are to bring them in, it should be on non guaranteed contracts. Them signing deals like that would show that they are committed to doing whatever the team needs to win.

I think people are too hard on T-Mac. He came off Micro fracture surgery and was not 100% at all last year. After the season he said he is going to train hard (I know the standard party line) but if he didn't feel he was ready he would retire. NBA players especially former star players are proud, so if he's not ready I bet he does retire.

AI's problem is that he has trouble with the idea that he's not the best player on his team anymore. His statement would indicate that he realizes he needs to be a bench player but we wouldn't be able to see until he comes into training camp. If we signed him to a vet min deal and he acted up we simply cut him.

I completely agree with you on TMac. If he takes the vet min, I say grab him.

I do agree with you about AI too, except us signing him. I don't see how his skill set could help this team. An undersized backup SG? Shoot-first PG? Can't defend or rebound, never could. I think he can fit somewhere with a new mindset, just not a good fit for us.

[Brendan]

0% chance of that happening.

He could only take the MLE from Cleveland, so unless they lose their minds and give him a 5 year deal (still only worth like 30-32 million), Celtics can easily give him the 3rd year.

Not happening unless a S&T, which Boston definitely would not do.

NO WAY.....

LBJ and Ray in NYC, maybe (if they could both sign now with STAT's contract)

Because of Ray's age and the CBA it will be hard for him to get a five year deal, I think three years is the most he can sign before he'll really wack out a teams cap and luxury numbers.

There are trades with CLE I'd make in a S&T for Ray... Andy V and West for Ray? Done and Done.

[GreenEnvy]

0% chance of that happening.

He could only take the MLE from Cleveland, so unless they lose their minds and give him a 5 year deal (still only worth like 30-32 million), Celtics can easily give him the 3rd year.

Not happening unless a S&T, which Boston definitely would not do.

NO WAY.....

LBJ and Ray in NYC, maybe (if they could both sign now with STAT's contract)

Because of Ray's age and the CBA it will be hard for him to get a five year deal, I think three years is the most he can sign before he'll really wack out a teams cap and luxury numbers.

There are trades with CLE I'd make in a S&T for Ray... Andy V and West for Ray? Done and Done.

O I agree that Cleveland wouldn't do it, just that's the absolute best he could do from them, which still isn't that much compared to what the C's could with his Bird Rights.

And you'd be NUTS to do that trade. DWest is a crazy dude with a semi-decent game. Varejao I just never saw the upside.

Plus, Ray is exactly what LeBron needs, a sharpshooter who knows how to get open.

That would come back to bite us real bad.

[greg_kite]

0% chance of that happening.

He could only take the MLE from Cleveland, so unless they lose their minds and give him a 5 year deal (still only worth like 30-32 million), Celtics can easily give him the 3rd year.

Not happening unless a S&T, which Boston definitely would not do.

NO WAY.....

LBJ and Ray in NYC, maybe (if they could both sign now with STAT's contract)

Because of Ray's age and the CBA it will be hard for him to get a five year deal, I think three years is the most he can sign before he'll really wack out a teams cap and luxury numbers.

There are trades with CLE I'd make in a S&T for Ray... Andy V and West for Ray? Done and Done.

O I agree that Cleveland wouldn't do it, just that's the absolute best he could do from them, which still isn't that much compared to what the C's could with his Bird Rights.

And you'd be NUTS to do that trade. DWest is a crazy dude with a semi-decent game. Varejao I just never saw the upside.

Plus, Ray is exactly what LeBron needs, a sharpshooter who knows how to get open.

That would come back to bite us real bad.

I don't see Cleveland trading Varajao away for a 34 year old.  If Lebron is staying he will need Varajao and Hickson as his big.  He already has wings to play with in Parker and Moon, I just don't think the need for Ray is as great as their need for size.

[nba is the worst]

nickagenta is correct - neither player has anything left.

I just think Cle is trying to jack up the cost of signing Ray - no way the Cavs lose Varejao.

I look at Tmac's career numbers and it's hard to understand why he made it as big as he did - and I don't see him ever getting back to those crap shooting percentages after all the injuries.

[Evantime34]

With how many roster spots we have to fill out it couldn't hurt. If we are to bring them in, it should be on non guaranteed contracts. Them signing deals like that would show that they are committed to doing whatever the team needs to win.

I think people are too hard on T-Mac. He came off Micro fracture surgery and was not 100% at all last year. After the season he said he is going to train hard (I know the standard party line) but if he didn't feel he was ready he would retire. NBA players especially former star players are proud, so if he's not ready I bet he does retire.

AI's problem is that he has trouble with the idea that he's not the best player on his team anymore. His statement would indicate that he realizes he needs to be a bench player but we wouldn't be able to see until he comes into training camp. If we signed him to a vet min deal and he acted up we simply cut him.

I completely agree with you on TMac. If he takes the vet min, I say grab him.

I do agree with you about AI too, except us signing him. I don't see how his skill set could help this team. An undersized backup SG? Shoot-first PG? Can't defend or rebound, never could. I think he can fit somewhere with a new mindset, just not a good fit for us.

AI if he plays in his role, would be a perfect instant bench offense player.

I read somewhere that part of Cleveland's pitch is to sign Ray. Not sure how they plan on doing this without offering him over the MLE.

[greg_kite]

The only thing that I've seen that I like would be if the C's can get Rudy Fernandez.  He'd be able to start right away and also be around for a while.

Other replacements I wouldn't hate would be Anthony Morrow or CJ Watson from GS.

I'd still prefer Ray over any of those guys, but those guys would help ease the pain of losing him.

[GreenEnvy]

With how many roster spots we have to fill out it couldn't hurt. If we are to bring them in, it should be on non guaranteed contracts. Them signing deals like that would show that they are committed to doing whatever the team needs to win.

I think people are too hard on T-Mac. He came off Micro fracture surgery and was not 100% at all last year. After the season he said he is going to train hard (I know the standard party line) but if he didn't feel he was ready he would retire. NBA players especially former star players are proud, so if he's not ready I bet he does retire.

AI's problem is that he has trouble with the idea that he's not the best player on his team anymore. His statement would indicate that he realizes he needs to be a bench player but we wouldn't be able to see until he comes into training camp. If we signed him to a vet min deal and he acted up we simply cut him.

I completely agree with you on TMac. If he takes the vet min, I say grab him.

I do agree with you about AI too, except us signing him. I don't see how his skill set could help this team. An undersized backup SG? Shoot-first PG? Can't defend or rebound, never could. I think he can fit somewhere with a new mindset, just not a good fit for us.

AI if he plays in his role, would be a perfect instant bench offense player.

I read somewhere that part of Cleveland's pitch is to sign Ray. Not sure how they plan on doing this without offering him over the MLE.

AI is not in very good shape. He was never an efficient scorer, and he's even less so now. Can he still consistently create his own shot? Better than Nate? Despite his steals totals, he was never a good defender, and he is even worse now. IDK.

And yeah, Danny will not help Cleveland in any way, as the only player better than Ray that they can offer is Lebron himself. Ray can easily get more than the MLE from someplace, especially NY or NJ.

95% chance he is back in Boston when all is said an done.
2yr/$20M
or if teams start bidding
3yr/$25M