Think about it....Ray really may leave

[papa shuttlesworth]

I don't see the coorelation between a younger player (Pierce) who's played his whole career in Boston and can still do multiple things on the court with a 3 pt shooter.  DA may give the 3rd year to Ray because like some have said there is no better option but, I don't think Paul's 4th has any correlation other than the fact that they know (like most everyone else) that with Paul, KG, and Rondo they have good shot as long as they add a sharp shooter or Ray doesn't demand too much.

I get the sense that some think Ray's got more left in the tank than Paul... Of course those people seem to forget all the scoring droughts and the fact that he is 2 years older or how he can't stay in front of anyone or the falling down.

I think some will be in for a rude awakening if you think he gets anywhere close to Paul's salary.  And I suspect there will be some complaining ( betrayed again lol ). 

I think others think Ray has more in his tank because of his cleaner bill of health, conditioning and the non-physicalness of his game compared to Pierce.  If I had to bet money on which player would miss more games with an injury in the next three seasons, I'd bet on Pierce.

I agree that Pierce does more now than Ray (meaning his game is more well-rounded), but that may hurt him in the future.  Imagine 2.5 years from now, when each of their athleticism has declined.  As a 6th or 7th man, Ray Allen will still be a good shooter who makes good decisions and can provide other stats every now and then.  As a 6th or 7th man, what is the skill that Pierce can consistently fall back on?  (I am assuming that neither will be kept around for their defense at 37.)

(This is not meant to hate on Pierce or say that Ray is a better signing, just that people who think signing Ray might have valid reasons behind their opinions.)

[Spilling Green Dye]

I don't see the coorelation between a younger player (Pierce) who's played his whole career in Boston and can still do multiple things on the court with a 3 pt shooter.  DA may give the 3rd year to Ray because like some have said there is no better option but, I don't think Paul's 4th has any correlation other than the fact that they know (like most everyone else) that with Paul, KG, and Rondo they have good shot as long as they add a sharp shooter or Ray doesn't demand too much.

I get the sense that some think Ray's got more left in the tank than Paul... Of course those people seem to forget all the scoring droughts and the fact that he is 2 years older or how he can't stay in front of anyone or the falling down.

I think some will be in for a rude awakening if you think he gets anywhere close to Paul's salary.  And I suspect there will be some complaining ( betrayed again lol ). 

The correlation is this is our core. It started as 3, and became 4. We could have let two walk. By bringing back one, you kinda have to bring back the other. Agreed?

Now, do you stay firm and let him possibly walk because he wants a 3rd year? So one extra year (which in the NBA an expiring contract is always valuable) convinces you it's not worth the two we want and need him for? That's a huge mistake, especially when we can't get anything in return and he will in all likelihood be standing in our way on a superior team (wherever he goes, that team is probably the favorite in the East).

And Ray has had droughts this past seas. Ray had droughts last season too. And in 2008. Probably at UConn too. He's a shooter. That's what he does. Some games he may be off, way off even. Some he may knock down 8 treys in a finals game and save our butts.

He's definitely gonna get $8+ million, maybe as much as 12. He's worth it. He's the best shooter in the game. He's always one shot away from a hot streak.

But you are right about one thing, there will be complaining regardless.

Disagree, you don't have to bring him back too.  In fact, when a team's roster & payroll drop off a cliff in 1-year it has historically led to a tough rebuilding process. 

Ray has had droughts, sure, like any shooter.  Except that his droughts have most often come in the playoffs, and he doesn't offer much else when he isn't shooting well.

Based off of total career numbers I'd say Ray is the best career shooter in the league, but I don't think he is the best shooter in the league at this very moment.  There are other players (like Anthony Morrow) that RIGHT NOW shoot better, are quicker to run around screens, and can be trained to become very good Celtics for years to come.  Oh, and those players are cheaper. 

[Jon]

Ray doesn't want to be a 6th man...so I take him out of the Miami run.  I unfortunately can see him maybe going to New York if Lebron signs there.  He's going to go where BIG free agents go, and if none of the top tier free agents sign in Chicago or New Jersey, he aint goin there.

So ultimately, I say he's either back with the Celtics or could go to the Knicks IF Lebron signs.  

Correct me if I'm wrong capologists, but if LeBron goes to New York, that should leave New York with only about 6 million in cap space (which cannot be combined with the MLE).  So they shouldn't be a threat to take Ray. 

[kozlodoev]

Correct me if I'm wrong capologists, but if LeBron goes to New York, that should leave New York with only about 6 million in cap space (which cannot be combined with the MLE).  So they shouldn't be a threat to take Ray. 

If you're under the cap, you don't have a mid-level exception. So the Knicks, who start the off-season under the cap will not be able to use the MLE at any point during this summer. When they go above the cap, they will only be able to sign veteran minimum players.

[thirstyboots18]

I disagree heartily with you, Green Dye,  Ray guarded Kobe as well as anyone, young or old, in the league could guard him during the Finals!  Ray's contribution was certainly NOT the reason we lost that Game 7.  I will always maintain, despite the refs interferance, if Perk had not been hurt, he would have made at least a 5 point difference.  I did not say shut the Lakers down.....I said he would have made up the five point difference.  He was hurt, he didn't play, we didn't win.  No individuals fault...and certainly not Ray's.

[alley oop]

.

[celticinorlando]

ray will be back IMO

[lovely_20]

ray will be back IMO

I agree.

[3ptAndOne]

You have to look at the situation in Ray’s point of view. He can possibly get more money and a better chance of winning a champion from another team. This is his last chance to get a big contract and the window where he can be a significant factor to winning a championship is almost close.
 
If both conditions are meet then I think he is gone.

Do the Celtics have a better chance of winning a champion with him or the other teams with newly acquire big name FA with him?

[CoachBo]

I put three years, $33 million on the table right now.

[kenmaine]

I disagree heartily with you, Green Dye,  Ray guarded Kobe as well as anyone, young or old, in the league could guard him during the Finals!  Ray's contribution was certainly NOT the reason we lost that Game 7.  I will always maintain, despite the refs interferance, if Perk had not been hurt, he would have made at least a 5 point difference.  I did not say shut the Lakers down.....I said he would have made up the five point difference.  He was hurt, he didn't play, we didn't win.  No individuals fault...and certainly not Ray's.

Disagree about Ray. Actually, TA guards Kobe better than Ray. Wasn't there a stat about TA holding Kobe to approx. 25% shooting during the series and everyone else holding him to approx. 45%?
Not sure of the exact numbers, but seems to me that Ray is never held accountable for anything negative, like his horrendous shooting after game 2.

And to answer the automatic response that "his shooting was affected by having to play defense on Kobe", how does that affect his shooting in the first quarter? Is he already tired?

Not trying to bash Ray, just trying to point out that he's still a very good player these days, but very inconsistent.

Agree about Perk though, it's a shame he couldn't play game 7, but Sheed really did as much or more than Perk could have done, until he ran out of gas. Oh well, that's water under the bridge and we'll never know what might have been.