Why Did Tony Allen Leave???

[Brendan]

Agree Chris - the way I look at it, where do you expect to have a bigger role? The championship team with 30+ MPG starters at PG, SG, and SF that will only give you a two year deal? Or the up and coming team willing to go three?

[fairweatherfan]

Lets also remember, that despite what Danny says, Memphis did guarantee him more money.  They offered him slightly more money annually, but more importantly guaranteed him a third season, which reportedly the C's were not interested in doing.  For a guy like Tony, who is constantly injured, and is a microfracture away from being out of the league, that extra $3-5 million is HUGE.

I agree, the 3rd year is huge, especially with the uncertainty surrounding salaries after the new CBA kicks in.

It's easy for us to say "oh, they make millions already, why not leave something on the table?" but I have a strong suspicion that if any of us were faced with a decision to voluntarily give up several million dollars of salary things might not seem so clear-cut.

[guava_wrench]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

[CelticHooligan3]

I was a big TA supporter but his comments that we "disrespected" him with our offer and waiting really rubbed me the wrong way. I wonder if we should also feel "disrespected" by sticking by him through his numerous injuries as he sat on the bench and collected pay check after paycheck. He seems to have selective memory. Cause I'm pretty sure we gave him chance after chance when he got hit with injuries. And he had no problem cashing his checks during that period. But somehow us waiting to see his market value and offering him two years was disrespectful.

Just another case of a self absorbed unappreciative millionaire in the NBA. Gimme a break Tony. Go have fun sitting on the bench in Memphis. From what I saw the other night he still can't dribble the ball to save his life and his shooting is lacking to say the least. He'll be out of the league when his contracts up if not sooner. Idle time spent on the bench is the devils work in Tonys hands. I can just see some off the court drama unfolding.

[hpantazo]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

? He could have been paid the same amount to sit on the bench in boston and collect another ring, and then possibly start in 2-3 years. How is that the right move? He's an idiot.

[Chris]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

? He could have been paid the same amount to sit on the bench in boston and collect another ring, and then possibly start in 2-3 years. How is that the right move? He's an idiot.

No, Memphis offered more money and more years.  And the chances of him starting in 2-3 years were incredibly slim.

[hpantazo]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

? He could have been paid the same amount to sit on the bench in boston and collect another ring, and then possibly start in 2-3 years. How is that the right move? He's an idiot.

No, Memphis offered more money and more years.  And the chances of him starting in 2-3 years were incredibly slim.

not much more from all reports I read, and who will start over him when Ray, Pierce, and KG are gone? He would have had as good a chance as anyone to start on the post-big three celtics. He's a fool. He thought he would start in memphis and break out into an all-star. This is a good wakeup call for him. Heck, even his coach in memphis said he should have stayed in boston.

[dpaps]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

? He could have been paid the same amount to sit on the bench in boston and collect another ring, and then possibly start in 2-3 years. How is that the right move? He's an idiot.

No, Memphis offered more money and more years.  And the chances of him starting in 2-3 years were incredibly slim.

not much more from all reports I read, and who will start over him when Ray, Pierce, and KG are gone? He would have had as good a chance as anyone to start on the post-big three celtics.

By the time Ray, PP, and KG are gone, we're talking 2 or 4 (in PPs case) years down the road. By then the team will most likely look drastically different. Danny would get a replacement, he wouldn't just let TA start because he is the best available on the bench. I surely hope TA was never going to start for the Celtics. He's not a starter in this league. Certainly not on a championship caliber team.

[Chris]

He did the right move. He will get paid to sit on the bench for a few year, and then he should still be healthy enough to get a cheap contract with a winning team to play some spot defense.

? He could have been paid the same amount to sit on the bench in boston and collect another ring, and then possibly start in 2-3 years. How is that the right move? He's an idiot.

No, Memphis offered more money and more years.  And the chances of him starting in 2-3 years were incredibly slim.

not much more from all reports I read, and who will start over him when Ray, Pierce, and KG are gone? He would have had as good a chance as anyone to start on the post-big three celtics. He's a fool. He thought he would start in memphis and break out into an all-star. This is a good wakeup call for him. Heck, even his coach in memphis said he should have stayed in boston.

Do you have any specifics?  Because I know Danny was spinning it as if it were "comparable" (I think that was the word) money, when it really was funny math.  He was leaving out the fact that he was unwilling to guaranteed the third year.  So, yeah, the C's were within half a million or so on the yearly salary, but for the life of the deal, it was like a $4 million difference...which is a lot of money, and a huge risk for someone of Tony's injury history. 

Not to mention, he is not getting any younger.  He will be 30, going on 31 when this contract ends, which is not ideal for a back of the rotation player looking to get paid.

As for him starting for the C's in 2-3 years.  If they did not have a better option than Tony Allen once Ray Allen is gone (Pierce is around for another 4 years), God help us.

[Greenbean]

The real question is, Why did Tony pick Memphis?

If that was his only offer he should have signed with Boston for shorter years where he can continue to showcase himself as a playoff perimeter stopper. He might get lost in the shuffle in memphis and never get that big payday he thinks he deserves.

[Chris]

The real question is, Why did Tony pick Memphis?

If that was his only offer he should have signed with Boston for shorter years where he can continue to showcase himself as a playoff perimeter stopper. He might get lost in the shuffle in memphis and never get that big payday he thinks he deserves.

The problem is, I think this was his chance for the big payday.  He is 27 years old, and coming off his best season as a pro.  He also happened to be an offseason when owners were throwing around money even more than normal, before the well likely run dry on the new CBA.  Even when you don't take into account the injury risk, the simple risk of not being able to get more than Memphis was offering in a couple years based purely on market and performance was too high.

[CDawg834]

The real question is, Why did Tony pick Memphis?

If that was his only offer he should have signed with Boston for shorter years where he can continue to showcase himself as a playoff perimeter stopper. He might get lost in the shuffle in memphis and never get that big payday he thinks he deserves.

Memphis was probably the only team offering a guaranteed third year.  The Celtics made it clear to him they weren't going to give him more than two, and likely at less money.  He felt he was lost in the shuffle in Boston anyway, so why not take more guaranteed money for the same job?

[incoherent]

Tony Allen's agent suckered both Tony Allen and Memphis.

[mgent]

The real question is, Why did Tony pick Memphis?

If that was his only offer he should have signed with Boston for shorter years where he can continue to showcase himself as a playoff perimeter stopper. He might get lost in the shuffle in memphis and never get that big payday he thinks he deserves.

The problem is, I think this was his chance for the big payday.  He is 27 years old, and coming off his best season as a pro.  He also happened to be an offseason when owners were throwing around money even more than normal, before the well likely run dry on the new CBA.  Even when you don't take into account the injury risk, the simple risk of not being able to get more than Memphis was offering in a couple years based purely on market and performance was too high.

Don't expect a lot of people to think rationally when it comes to Tony Allen.  I'm sure that extra 4mil meant a lot to him.  He hasn't even made 10 million in his career.

[Greenbean]

The real question is, Why did Tony pick Memphis?

If that was his only offer he should have signed with Boston for shorter years where he can continue to showcase himself as a playoff perimeter stopper. He might get lost in the shuffle in memphis and never get that big payday he thinks he deserves.

The problem is, I think this was his chance for the big payday.  He is 27 years old, and coming off his best season as a pro.  He also happened to be an offseason when owners were throwing around money even more than normal, before the well likely run dry on the new CBA.  Even when you don't take into account the injury risk, the simple risk of not being able to get more than Memphis was offering in a couple years based purely on market and performance was too high.

You are probably right but he should not be surprised about playing time. He should have known going in that he would not have an increased role on Memphis. He went where the most money was not where the most available playing time was. He cant be surprised now and he cant try to spin his departure from Boston as he was looking for a bigger role to get out of the shadows of the big 4.

Im not hating by the way...by all means he did the right thing for himself financially.

Edit: Woo Hoo! Im Bill Walton...sweet.