Ray "most likely" to be elsewhere next season?

[radiohead]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnLgaAxoNg3I.y4pdv7CYmq8vLYF?slug=mc-spears_celtics_last_run_nba_032212

“First of all, the team has to be willing to have me back,” Allen said. “Then you have to look around to see what’s acceptable and who is capable of having me on the team and then you go from there. It’s hard to really say.”

Sounds like he may leave if there's a better offer out there. He did say he wants to stay but if someone like Miami or Chicago "overpays" for him, it would be really hard for him to pass up. KG on the other hand seems to be the one more likely to stay according to Doc Rivers. I remember reading an article a few days ago about how KG would want to play with Stiemsma next season and that he hopes Danny would extend Greg's contract for next year. Overall the above linked article is a good read. Makes you appreciate the Big 4 even more. So let's just sit back and enjoy the ride guys! I'm sure this team will go down fighting til the very end.

[j804]

I don't think Miami has the money to overpay him.

[Marcus13]

Miami, Chicago, and LA are all over the cap ... Boston would undoubtedly be able to pay him the most to return and this is where he wants to be.  It'd be stupid to not bring him back...if we were going to let him go for nothing, we might as well have traded him for that pick this year

[MBunge]

There's no way Ray or KG are going to leave Boston unless Ainge decides he plain doesn't want them back.  I would imagine Ainge's priorities are...

1.  Trying to swing an off season deal to land a superstar to pair with Rondo.

2.  Trying to move up in the draft to get one of the elite players.

3.  Resigning Bass and Green and then bringing in a real center like Kaman or Okafor.

The only way I see KG or Ray leaving, if they still want to play, is if Ainge somehow lands a top 5 lottery pick and decides to blow everything up in hopes of pairing that guy and Rondo with another top lotto pick next year.

Mike

[Chief]

If the Celtics lose early in the playoffs, I think it's time to move on. Celtics should keep KG and Paul and start a more youthful movement.

[LB3533]

Ray is the only member of the Big 3 that is regressing since the AS break.

Both KG and PP are kinda getting stronger as the season progresses.

I am looking for Ray to go on a shooting clinic the last of the month, but if he continues to cool off in the regular season and then catches fire in the playoffs...I am good with that as well haha.

[Chris]

I think the C's won't have a problem with seeing Ray move on this summer, and they will gladly do a sign and trade if its needed to facilitate it (providing the other team has something decent to offer.

Ray has dropped off the most of any of the Big 3 this year, IMO.  His defense has fallen off even further, and while he still kills it with dagger 3's, he is not able to get open like he used to. 

I think Ray's spot is the most likely spot where they will try hard to go young at. 

[FrDrake]

If the Celtics lose early in the playoffs, I think it's time to move on. Celtics should keep KG and Paul and start a more youthful movement.

Thank you for being the voice of reason here.  KG and Ray are looking their age and are wearing down now...imagine how they will look next year or gosh-forbid, the season after that.  At some point this team needs to move on.  

If anything resigning KG could have a negative effect on Rondo's development since they need to go uptempo and allow Rondo to take on a leadership role.  That isn't going to happen with KG screaming at everyone while his skills diminish.

Don't get me wrong...love KG and Ray for all they have done over the years on the Cs.  But it's time.

[Chris]

If the Celtics lose early in the playoffs, I think it's time to move on. Celtics should keep KG and Paul and start a more youthful movement.

Thank you for being the voice of reason here.  KG and Ray are looking their age and are wearing down now...imagine how they will look next year or gosh-forbid, the season after that.  At some point this team needs to move on.  

If anything resigning KG could have a negative effect on Rondo's development since they need to go uptempo and allow Rondo to take on a leadership role.  That isn't going to happen with KG screaming at everyone while his skills diminish.

Don't get me wrong...love KG and Ray for all they have done over the years on the Cs.  But it's time.

KG has been one of the best (and fastest) centers in the league over the last month or so.  I don't think this team would suffer at all from bringing KG back next year.  The question is going to be whether he wants to come back for what the C's will pay him, or whether he will choose to play out his career on more of a contender.

[Kane3387]

Miami, Chicago, and LA are all over the cap ... Boston would undoubtedly be able to pay him the most to return and this is where he wants to be.  It'd be stupid to not bring him back...if we were going to let him go for nothing, we might as well have traded him for that pick this year

Yeah they all should be luxury tax teams right? So the can only offer 3 mill per the mini MLE

[clover]

I hope someone else overpays him.

[MBunge]

People talking about saying goodbye to KG and Ray had best take a look at the list of free agents this offseason.  It ain't great and they'll all be looking for 4 year deals.  Getting KG and Ray for 2 years at below market value isn't that bad an option.

Mike

[Jon]

First of all, why is "most likely" in quotes?  It's really misleading given that the article never says anything besides the fact that Ray Allen was the "most likely" of the Big Four to be traded.  And that clearly didn't happen and that's clearly not what the title of this link is implying.  I really think the title of this thread should be changed.

Second, it's that silly time of year again.  I'm sure Miami would love him, but unless Ray is an MLE player now, I don't see how they get him. 

Overall, I think there's a good chance both are back next year.  The worst possible thing Danny could do this summer is follow Joe Dumars's lead and ink a bunch of second tier players to big long term deals.  Thus, if Danny doesn't find anyone he really feels is worthy of being a top 2-3 player on a future contender, it'd be a good idea to bring Ray and KG back.

By bringing them both back, he keeps the C's reputation as a good club afloat.  More importantly, he retains their value, as they could once again be traded next season to either a contender looking to upgrade or as expiring deals in either a larger deal or to a team looking to dump salary. 

[2short]

I agree with the posts about Ray loosing something defensively and getting open through the picks.  I think you could see danny go hard after kg to resign, if jeff green is healthy he'd be a good signing, ainge might again try to move pp.  
I could see ray in a sign and trade to a team of his liking, let go to highest bidder or resigned with celtics at a new lower contract.  I personally believe if ray plays for just about any playoff quality team he'll have to consider coming off the bench next year.  Would I like him to be our outside threat off the bench in Boston?  Of course, class act, good teammate.  But I can't see overpaying for him whereas some teams might do that.  Clippers would probably pay top dollar and he could start for them.

[manl_lui]

i say we go for whatever max free agent there is first. If we cannot, it won't hurt resigning KG and Allen for slightly cheaper for one more year, so they can retire in green with Pierce.