Cs better resign Ray. Would be monumental mistake to let him go.

[Senninsage]

Seriously. Ray Allen coming off the bench is a must for this team. It would make us so much more dangerous with the emergence of Bradley, Bass's play, and a possible resigning of Green. Who wouldn't want to see Jeff Green and Ray Allen coming off the bench for this team?

We'd be one of the deepest and deadliest teams in the entire league, with one of the scariest bench units. If the Celtics are serious about a championship run, it sure as hell doesn't start with letting a player like Ray Allen go to the Miami Heat. There are reports that Rondo and Ray have their issues. What team doesn't have their issues. The Celtics have a serious championship run in them if they can keep Ray and sign Green. We also have a player like Sullinger now, who can also be a pretty big deal for us. We have the makings of a truly beast bench unit, and to give up Ray to one of our principle rivals would be beyond stupid.

What Ray gives this team needs to be properly appreciated. If we didn't have Ray, we'd be busting ass to get him on this team. Why in god's name do we have him, and are seemingly ready to let this guy go? Ray is still one of the best players in the NBA. He's an intelligent player that comes up big in big moments. The guy gave us 19 points in game 7 on an ankle that needed surgery. The guy started that game shooting the [dang] lights out, man. We need to keep this guy.

[cman88]

I think the C's want to bring him back...the question is if ray himself wants to come back

which is why they have contingency plans in going after Mayo/Crawford

[AshyLarry]

I think the C's want to bring him back...the question is if ray himself wants to come back

which is why they have contingency plans in going after Mayo/Crawford

What he said.

[lightspeed5]

he spaces the floor like no other.

[greenpride32]

I think the C's want to bring him back...the question is if ray himself wants to come back

which is why they have contingency plans in going after Mayo/Crawford

Considering the C's wanted to trade Ray for Mayo as recently as a few months back, and then Ray having some health issues; I don't see what would have changed betwen now and then to change their line of thinking.  I would not be surprised if the C's aren't making a big push to resign Ray. 

[Senninsage]

Exactly, he spaces the floor better than almost anybody, and he's a crucial aspect of the game, and he was really good for us in the playoffs against the Heat.

And when you mention health issues, please keep in mind that it was just his ankle, which is easily correctable with the surgery to remove the bone spurs, and even then Ray was solid.

I'm really and truly not seeing O.J. Mayo being a suitable replacement for Ray if the Celtics want to win a championship this upcoming season. Ray is easily good for another 2 to 3 seasons. And, most important, when you're trying to go for a championship, you sure as hell don't make one of your principle opponents -- in this case the Miami Heat -- a much stronger team. That's what the Heat become if they get Ray on their team. Can you imagine us trying to deal with Lebron, Wade and Bosh with someone like Ray Allen spacing the floor for them? If the Celtics did not already have Ray Allen, we would be pursuing him hardcore, and everybody on this forum I think knows that.

[libermaniac]

Ray is still one of the best players in the NBA.

If by that you mean top 75, then perhaps.  Let's not get too carried away now.

[LarBrd33]

Why would we not want to bring him back?  We have his bird rights.  It's not like we are going to carve out cap space... what's the point in letting one of the best shooters in the entire league leave? ... especially when the price tag is so low ?

[Celts Fan 92]

at dis point im not expecting Ray back at all lol

[Senninsage]

Ray is still one of the best players in the NBA.

If by that you mean top 75, then perhaps.  Let's not get too carried away now.

Like I said, Ray is still one of the best players in the NBA. He's not an okay player. He's not an average player. He's an excellent player. He's a star. He doesn't need to score the kinds of points that Durant and Lebron do to be considered one of the best players in the entire league. Ray Allen is one of the best players in the NBA, and any team would love to have th guy. I'd be stunned if the team that has him somehow doesn't try their best to keep him around.

[WsAllDay]

gah some people overrate 37 year old ray allen around here. I mean i love the guy but, i also like to think rationally. Allen is a role player now not a star. The C's Clearly want ray back but, want him to come off the bench and ray im pretty sure wants to start. If that's the case the C's should spend the money else where..

[colincb]

gah some people overrate 37 year old ray allen around here. I mean i love the guy but, i also like to think rationally. Allen is a role player now not a star. The C's Clearly want ray back but, want him to come off the bench and ray im pretty sure wants to start. If that's the case the C's should spend the money else where..

Unlikely that they get to spend the money elsewhere the way the cap works. So it's really try to sign+trade him which is pretty unlikely since Ray has to be on board with the destination or let him walk for nothing.

[colincb]

Why would we not want to bring him back?  We have his bird rights.  It's not like we are going to carve out cap space... what's the point in letting one of the best shooters in the entire league leave? ... especially when the price tag is so low ?

Because we can get some young legs to run on a minimum contract to run with Rondo.  Someone like Hollins fits the salary requirements.  Wouldn't that be exciting!!!  There are even some pain lovers who want to rebuild because they like to stick needles in their eyes for fun.

If we don't get a sign+trade to our and Ray's liking, and that's pretty tough to do, we're far better off keeping him than letting him walk to be replaced by a minimum salary scrub particularly  to keep him from the Heat. Bulpett claims they are trying to get Ray back (and that the Cs may also have the full-MLE to use on some one else if they do).  I've read conflicting things on the availability of the $5M MLE so who knows?

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1061142630

[clover]

Ha ha--what you'd expect, I guess, except for Alaska.

In an ESPN vote on whether Boston or Miami makes more sense for Ray, only the six New England states, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio and Alaska pick Boston:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=nba&pollId=142189

[Lightskinsmurf]

Can't take you seriously when you say losing a 37 year old ray allen would be a monumental mistake. At his age there are plenty of guys that can replace him. We got the guy we needed in order to contend next year *KG*. Ray can be replaced. I want him back but you're getting carried away over there.