Tony To sign with Grizz?

[GreenFaith1819]

What??

C'mon TA quit playing around and sign with Boston!

If it's a money issue that's one thing - but the money will get old real fast as you are watching us in the playoffs and Finals in 10-11. I hope Danny can work something out respectfully for him.

I thought this was already a done deal?

[DinTN]

Out of curiousity for no other reason, what *could* we have paid TA? I'm not a cap-ologist but understand we had Bird-rights and could have signed him to a much higher salary than his previous one.

After seeing the other post "...Allen wanted to return to Boston at the same price but the Celtics didn't want to pay him..." this really makes even less sense.

Put that together with DA wanting to bring TA back:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67987/20100708/celtics_want_to_bring_tony_allen_robinson_back/

How much was DA realistically going to offer then? Still trying to figure this one out....?

[SCBirdman]

Guys,

Relax for a minute. I can't believe that Danny would let TA walk for that deal UNLESS he already has a deal in place that nets TA's replacement. Maybe Sheeds deal for a package that cannot be announced yet?

I just don't believe that DA resigned RAY, Resigned PP and then used the full MLE on JO if winning a Championship was not the top priority.

In order to do that, we have to have another wing, a big and back-up PG. Nate will fill the PG role.

Have some faith in Danny. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes. JO wasn't even mentioned int he media until the deal was basically done.

So just chill and lets see what DA has going on.

[ManUp]

I would've like him back, but I really couldn't care less if he left. Tony is one of our most replaceable players, IMO. His defense is spotty and the only thing consistent about him is his injury history. Bring on Josh Howard!

[kozlodoev]

Out of curiousity for no other reason, what *could* we have paid TA? I'm not a cap-ologist but understand we had Bird-rights and could have signed him to a much higher salary than his previous one.

After seeing the other post "...Allen wanted to return to Boston at the same price but the Celtics didn't want to pay him..." this really makes even less sense.

Put that together with DA wanting to bring TA back:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67987/20100708/celtics_want_to_bring_tony_allen_robinson_back/

How much was DA realistically going to offer then? Still trying to figure this one out....?

We hold Allen's Bird rights, so he could have been resigned at any price. Rumour is Ainge was unwilling to commit for the third year of the contract. Weird.

[elcotte]

But, of course, he's part of the 24-Win Alumni Association that we seem to pine so romantically for on this board ...

  Yes, let's get rid of Perk, Rondo and Pierce who were part of that 24 win team. Maybe we should also dump KG and RA, who were on teams that won less than 30 games when they were younger. Oh, and someone should inform Miami that Wade and Bosh were also on some pretty bad teams when they were younger.

excellent post. I agree with your sentiments.

[Chris]

Out of curiousity for no other reason, what *could* we have paid TA? I'm not a cap-ologist but understand we had Bird-rights and could have signed him to a much higher salary than his previous one.

After seeing the other post "...Allen wanted to return to Boston at the same price but the Celtics didn't want to pay him..." this really makes even less sense.

Put that together with DA wanting to bring TA back:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67987/20100708/celtics_want_to_bring_tony_allen_robinson_back/

How much was DA realistically going to offer then? Still trying to figure this one out....?

We hold Allen's Bird rights, so he could have been resigned at any price. Rumour is Ainge was unwilling to commit for the third year of the contract. Weird.

I am OK with this decision as long as Danny has another plan.  This only looks strange since they currently have no backup wings under contract.  He still has some bullets in his gun to change this.  I am witholding judgement on this decision until I see the rest of the roster.

[GreenFaith1819]

Guys,

Relax for a minute. I can't believe that Danny would let TA walk for that deal UNLESS he already has a deal in place that nets TA's replacement. Maybe Sheeds deal for a package that cannot be announced yet?

I just don't believe that DA resigned RAY, Resigned PP and then used the full MLE on JO if winning a Championship was not the top priority.

In order to do that, we have to have another wing, a big and back-up PG. Nate will fill the PG role.

Have some faith in Danny. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes. JO wasn't even mentioned int he media until the deal was basically done.

So just chill and lets see what DA has going on.

Good Point (TP) - so far Danny has yet to let me down, even back in the 80's when he was getting under opponents' skin with his scrappy play.

Lord knows I'll miss TA if he goes - maybe more than any other Celtics player. But like you said I trust that Danny will have something in the works.

[Drucci]

It seems that the third year was the deal breaker. Details from David Aldridge :

The Boston Celtics had had a pretty solid summer retaining some of their key components from last season's Finals team, but they lost one of their top reserves Sunday when guard Tony Allen agreed to a three-year, $9.7 million offer from the Memphis Grizzlies, a league source confirmed.

Allen was a key during Boston's run to the Finals, guarding the likes of LeBron James, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant with next to no help during several stretches of play, and providing unexpected offense on occasion for the Celtics. Allen and Glen Davis were instrumental in Boston's Game 4 win over the Lakers in the Finals that tied the series at two games apiece. He shot 51 percent from the floor for Boston, averaging 6.7 points per game, and had shown increased maturity and consistency this season.

The Celtics wanted to re-sign Allen, but were unwilling to give him a third guaranteed year. The most Boston offered was a two-year, $5.2 million offer, with a partial guaranteed third year. At that point the 28-year-old Allen decided to entertain the Memphis offer, which has no partial guarantees or team options. The Grizzlies like the toughness that Allen is expected to bring to Memphis as a reserve behind guard O.J. Mayo and small forward Rudy Gay, who agreed to an $82 million deal earlier this month.

Yahoo! Sports first reported Allen's deal with Memphis.

http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2#tallen

At least before we could think Danny had a "masterplan" but it just looks like he lowballed TA... doesn't look good for a potential replacement with our limited finances.

[twinbree]

Didn't see that coming. I'm glad we got amazing contributions this season from him to make up for the seasons of frustration before he left. Best of luck Tony and I hope we have a a replacement or two lined up.  

[FallGuy]

It seems that the third year was the deal breaker. Details from David Aldridge :

The Boston Celtics had had a pretty solid summer retaining some of their key components from last season's Finals team, but they lost one of their top reserves Sunday when guard Tony Allen agreed to a three-year, $9.7 million offer from the Memphis Grizzlies, a league source confirmed.

Allen was a key during Boston's run to the Finals, guarding the likes of LeBron James, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant with next to no help during several stretches of play, and providing unexpected offense on occasion for the Celtics. Allen and Glen Davis were instrumental in Boston's Game 4 win over the Lakers in the Finals that tied the series at two games apiece. He shot 51 percent from the floor for Boston, averaging 6.7 points per game, and had shown increased maturity and consistency this season.

The Celtics wanted to re-sign Allen, but were unwilling to give him a third guaranteed year. The most Boston offered was a two-year, $5.2 million offer, with a partial guaranteed third year. At that point the 28-year-old Allen decided to entertain the Memphis offer, which has no partial guarantees or team options. The Grizzlies like the toughness that Allen is expected to bring to Memphis as a reserve behind guard O.J. Mayo and small forward Rudy Gay, who agreed to an $82 million deal earlier this month.

Yahoo! Sports first reported Allen's deal with Memphis.

http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2#tallen

At least before we could think Danny had a "masterplan" but it just looks like he lowballed TA... doesn't look good for a potential replacement with our limited finances.

Danny is really holding fast to his 2012 rule, save for the Pierce contract (and that may have been more Wyc than Ainge).

What exactly is he planning on doing come summer-2012?

[hpantazo]

Thank God!!!

Good Riddance!!!

No more having to worry whether good Tony or Bad Tony showed up. No more Tony dribbling up on a fast break while ignoring his PGs and then turning the ball over. No more accosting three point shooters because of a horrible head fake that Tony bit on. No more horrendous outside shots.

No more Tony Allen!!! Yahoo!!!!

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Hmmmmmm.

Now I guess I will have to live with all the "Bring Back Tony Because He Was The Best Defensive Wing Since Basketball Was Invented!!" threads.

Yuk.

Maybe this wasn't such a great thing after all.

Why does it make you so happy to see Ray Allen get brutalized by Wade and Kobe (if we're lucky enough to see Kobe) in this years playoffs with no one currently on the roster to spell him?

Gee, were we watching the same gamess last year?

Ray brutalized by Kobe? I seem to remember Kobe going 8 for 20 for 19 points while getting blanketed by Ray in the first game of the regular season. I also seem to remember Ray playing unreal defense on Kobe in game 7 when Kobe was 6 for 24 for 23 points. Ray played excellent defense on Kobe for most of those Finals.

As for Wade, I didn't remember Tony Allen containing Dwyane Wade any better than Ray. Wade can pretty much do what he wants versus either Tony or Ray.

And I am not happy to see Celtic players brutalized by anyone but I think Tony's defensive work is seriously over rated on this board.

If he was so good against Kobe and Wade wouldn't a team like Denver or OKC or Utah or SA or Orlando or  Chicago(who has a coach that a knows Tony very well) or even Miami offer Tony better than $10 million over 3 years to join them?

He went to MEMPHIS for that money. Doesn't that tell you anything about what people were offering him or what people think is the value of his game?

Anything?

It speaks volumes to me and vindicates my feelings about his game. I saw some ridiculously absurd numbers being thrown around around here regarding Tony's monetary worth. Suffice to say, he got what I thought he was going to get all along.

Tommy Point. Wish I could give you 100.

Good, not great, defender. Horrific with the basketball in his hands. And very replaceable.

But, of course, he's part of the 24-Win Alumni Association that we seem to pine so romantically for on this board ...

Great post, Nick. I think we'll keep the franchise, despite this death blow to it.

TP's for both of you. Very well said. People seem to forget the great defense Ray played in the playoffs and forget all of Tony's bad qualities, like jumping for most ball fakes, lack of a jump shot, terrible decision making, etc. He is very replaceable and I believe we will even upgrade.

[Jon]

It would now be a good idea to bring back Marquis Daniels.  We'd still need a shooting wing.  But Marquis can do most of what Tony can do and can actually handle the ball better. 

[timepiece33]

Based on some of the rumors we've heard around here, I wonder if we have the option to trade Rasheed Wallace for Leandro Barbosa (who has a 2 year contract).  

It does suck that it leads to a minimum player as the backup SF, but that might not be the worst thing.  

[steve]

His defense doesn't outweigh his awful offense.  You simply can't have him out there in clutch moments on offense.  He can't shoot.  He turns the ball over.  If you are going to have a defensive stopper they need to shoot the three like Posey and Bowen.