Washburn: April 19 column on Ray Allen's unhappiness and potential departure

[rondohondo]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/04/19/ray-allen-deserved-better-treatment-from-celtics/fjWANDjafTUbu6FK9A11BO/story.html#share-nav

Doc Rivers had no issue acknowledging that the Celtics had a deal consummated to send Ray Allen to the Memphis Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo and a draft pick. He dismissed any hoopla that generated from the potential breakup of the Big Three and departure of one of Celtics’ most popular players.

Rivers said a conversation with Allen was not necessary afterward, no reason to pull the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer aside and tell him why he was nearly sent to Memphis. Allen is a consummate professional and understands the business. He’s been traded twice in his career, after all.

Allen is savvy in never displaying his true emotions, always even keel with the media, very composed on and off the court. Yet, that does not mean he lacks emotion. It’s been a disappointing season for Allen, because privately, he feels somewhat slighted by an organization for which he developed a loyalty and trust - and his demeanor has changed over the past few weeks.

In addition to being nearly traded, Allen was relegated to the bench by the emergence of Avery Bradley, a move that has made the Celtics more athletic and more effective defensively. Bradley’s offensive development has been one of the more surprising storylines of the NBA season.

It appears that Allen would appreciate better communication from team management. Yahoo! Sports reported that Rivers called Allen just hours before the March 15 trade deadline and informed him of the trade to Memphis and then called back 20 minutes later to tell him the deal had been foiled.

“No, I didn’t. It was more Danny [Ainge] calling, but [Allen] knew about it,’’ Rivers said. “I don’t see it as a big deal. I’m serious. I don’t get the big deal of it. It was a scary moment for all of us. If you lose Ray that’s a scary moment, he’s pretty good. Really, I’m serious. I wouldn’t want to see Ray, Paul [Pierce], or Kevin [Garnett] ever moved. That’s just how you are. Even if we got the best deal in the world, you’re still losing guys you have an attachment with - that would be scary for me, or any of us.’’

When asked what he told Allen in the days following the trade deadline, Rivers said: “Nothing much at all, really. The guys are great. I mean really that’s the point. Afterwards we were all good and just moved forward. That’s what I love about this team.’’

While the Celtics’ desire to get younger, get value for Allen’s expiring contract, and also nab a draft pick in one of the deeper drafts in recent memory all makes conventional sense, a conversation with Allen to relay those reasons and reemphasize his value would have been prudent.

And while Allen understood the decision to send him to the bench for the first time in his career, he made it clear that he approached Rivers about that change because the murmurs were becoming too loud and too distracting. If Rivers was going to make the change, he might as well do it now.

That’s not exactly Allen suggesting that Bradley replace him as has been characterized. It seems while the Celtics have undergone a resurgence - primarily because trades for Allen and Pierce never materialized - there has been a breakdown in communication and perhaps regard between management and those veteran players.

The wedge may be too late to close. Allen wants to finish this season with a championship, but the likelihood of his return next season has diminished.

Perhaps those are the prickly issues that arise when eras conclude, but this one should have been massaged and managed better to make the road to the next Celtics’ phase smoother.

come one Ray , we were going to give you more money and a no trade clause this time.

KG was offered for Josh Smith last year
Rondo was in constant trade talks
PP was offered for the Nets lottery pick

This was a total traitor move to me and actually really childish IMO

[bbd24]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/04/19/ray-allen-deserved-better-treatment-from-celtics/fjWANDjafTUbu6FK9A11BO/story.html#share-nav

Doc Rivers had no issue acknowledging that the Celtics had a deal consummated to send Ray Allen to the Memphis Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo and a draft pick. He dismissed any hoopla that generated from the potential breakup of the Big Three and departure of one of Celtics’ most popular players.

Rivers said a conversation with Allen was not necessary afterward, no reason to pull the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer aside and tell him why he was nearly sent to Memphis. Allen is a consummate professional and understands the business. He’s been traded twice in his career, after all.

Allen is savvy in never displaying his true emotions, always even keel with the media, very composed on and off the court. Yet, that does not mean he lacks emotion. It’s been a disappointing season for Allen, because privately, he feels somewhat slighted by an organization for which he developed a loyalty and trust - and his demeanor has changed over the past few weeks.

In addition to being nearly traded, Allen was relegated to the bench by the emergence of Avery Bradley, a move that has made the Celtics more athletic and more effective defensively. Bradley’s offensive development has been one of the more surprising storylines of the NBA season.

It appears that Allen would appreciate better communication from team management. Yahoo! Sports reported that Rivers called Allen just hours before the March 15 trade deadline and informed him of the trade to Memphis and then called back 20 minutes later to tell him the deal had been foiled.

“No, I didn’t. It was more Danny [Ainge] calling, but [Allen] knew about it,’’ Rivers said. “I don’t see it as a big deal. I’m serious. I don’t get the big deal of it. It was a scary moment for all of us. If you lose Ray that’s a scary moment, he’s pretty good. Really, I’m serious. I wouldn’t want to see Ray, Paul [Pierce], or Kevin [Garnett] ever moved. That’s just how you are. Even if we got the best deal in the world, you’re still losing guys you have an attachment with - that would be scary for me, or any of us.’’

When asked what he told Allen in the days following the trade deadline, Rivers said: “Nothing much at all, really. The guys are great. I mean really that’s the point. Afterwards we were all good and just moved forward. That’s what I love about this team.’’

While the Celtics’ desire to get younger, get value for Allen’s expiring contract, and also nab a draft pick in one of the deeper drafts in recent memory all makes conventional sense, a conversation with Allen to relay those reasons and reemphasize his value would have been prudent.

And while Allen understood the decision to send him to the bench for the first time in his career, he made it clear that he approached Rivers about that change because the murmurs were becoming too loud and too distracting. If Rivers was going to make the change, he might as well do it now.

That’s not exactly Allen suggesting that Bradley replace him as has been characterized. It seems while the Celtics have undergone a resurgence - primarily because trades for Allen and Pierce never materialized - there has been a breakdown in communication and perhaps regard between management and those veteran players.

The wedge may be too late to close. Allen wants to finish this season with a championship, but the likelihood of his return next season has diminished.

Perhaps those are the prickly issues that arise when eras conclude, but this one should have been massaged and managed better to make the road to the next Celtics’ phase smoother.

come one Ray , we were going to give you more money and a no trade clause this time.

KG was offered for Josh Smith last year
Rondo was in constant trade talks
PP was offered for the Nets lottery pick

This was a total traitor move to me and actually really childish IMO

Pretty unlike him actually. Oh well. Let's beat the Heat and put him out

[guava_wrench]

To what degree is Ray Allen motivated by proving his value to Ainge?

[Kane3387]

Who cares. Good luck ray against everyone but us. Time to move on bc honestly he is the enemy now.

[JOMVP]

It being a business goes both ways. Paul was shopped, KG was shopped, Rondo was shopped. Were they all crying at the end of the year?

At the trade deadline the Celtics sucked, and Danny was trying to get the most out of what he had, its not like the team was first place in the east and he decided to trade Ray anyway. It's a business Ray.

Ray Allen took this whole being traded thing the wrong way. I guarentee you when he has his press conference he's gonna mention, "It's a business," a couple times because he's a true "professional." you're right Ray, it is a buisness and within this business you are not only a player, you were an asset to help the floundering Celtics get better for the future, a consumate professional would have understood that... Kinda like Paul, KG, and Rondo.