The latest on Ray's "reasons" for leaving from Jackie MacMullan

[Drucci]

I know everybody is getting tired of Ray Allen's daily whining about the Celtics and the reasons why he left, but Jackie MacMullan just wrote an article on the subject, in which we learn that Ray and Doc's relationship basically sunk at the end of last season, that Pierce was (allegedly) almost traded to New Jersey, that Ray was almost traded for McGrady in 07-08 (!), and that after he signed with Miami he called Ainge and texted Garnettt. I find it weird that he didn't even give a call or send a text to Pierce but it's hard to understand any of his actions since he left.

We also have confirmation (according to Ainge) that the Celtics did offer him a no-trade clause.

Here is the article : http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8552139/ray-allen-left-boston-celtics-no-trade-clause-table

[Eja117]

Hey man. It's hard out there for an all-star shooting guard.

[arambone]

I wonder if Ray and A-Rod hang out in Miami. Maybe Tiger Woods too. Lance Armstrong probably stops by his buddies. Canseco rolls with them sometimes when they bump into him.

[D Dub]

Truck Ray All-en (clap clap clap-clap-clap), Truck Ray All-en (clap clap clap-clap-clap), Truck Ray All-en (clap clap clap-clap-clap)

[Valentines_at_Popeyes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WHptG35EWU

Cry some more.

[bdm860]

About the Ray/Mayo trade:  I believe everything I've always heard was that Doc told Ray he was traded to Memphis.  Ray's account is different though.  Nobody told him he was traded, but Danny told him he had an offer and the table for him and asked what he thought, and Danny basically just said I have to do what's best for the team (without saying one way or the other if he was going to do the trade).

To me, Ray's version actually makes Danny sound pretty classy.

"Danny told me he had a deal on the table for me to go to Memphis for O.J. Mayo and he asked me what I thought," Allen said. "I told him I didn't like it. I told him I didn't want to leave Boston. He said, 'I hope you understand my position.' I said, 'I know you have to build this team for the future, but I'm not happy about it.'"

[cman88]

anyone notice how m"mr classy" ray allen is the only one doing all the talking/trashing here? if he just kept his mouth shut I dont think he would get as much grief as he does

it was the cumulative result of what he viewed as an erosion of his value to the team. The no-trade clause wasn't enough, nor was the $6 million a year, which would have left him as the fifth-highest paid Celtic behind Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Jeff Green. That, too, was a problem. Minutes were an issue, and so was his lack of touches. Allen had lost faith in coach Doc Rivers, his old golfing partner, who minimized his role in the offense.

boo hoo, a 37yo shooting guard wasnt going to be treated like he was still a 26y/0 superstar...what did he expect?

so, instead he signs for the same role/touches/minutes probably for half the money

[soap07]

I fail to see how this makes either Danny or Ray look bad. Ray wanted to feel wanted by the team. That is fairly clear from the comments about the entire team texting him a couple years back. Danny and company probably didn't want him back as badly - considering the ankle, age, poor play, etc and it showed. That is perfectly reasonable on Danny's end too.

[LooseCannon]

I fail to see how this makes either Danny or Ray look bad.

It depends on whether or not you can look back at the end of the season and think that the Celtics may have a won a title if they had coddled Ray more.

[Eja117]

Dear Ray Allen,  please watch this and grow up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyhfiCO_XQ

sincerely Boston

[alley oop]

"Doc never called and said, 'We want you to come back,'" Allen said. "I can't say I expected him to do that. It's hard to say what the protocol is in those situations."

There was video of Doc saying he had called him, and was going to call him the next day, and next day, and the one after that.

[indeedproceed]

If pierce had gone to New Jersey, they'd have Deron/Joe/Pierce/Hump/Lopez

They'd be better overall.

[Ogaju]

Ray is coming off like a real jerk on this one. How many people believe Rey really called his family to pack their bags? Werent his kids in school?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I fail to see how this makes either Danny or Ray look bad. Ray wanted to feel wanted by the team. That is fairly clear from the comments about the entire team texting him a couple years back. Danny and company probably didn't want him back as badly - considering the ankle, age, poor play, etc and it showed. That is perfectly reasonable on Danny's end too.

How can you say that when we offered 2/12 and A NO-TRADE CLAUSE!!! You can't feel more wanted than a no-trade!!! Crazy Ray!

[BudweiserCeltic]

Finally some confirmation about the no-trade clause. I had my doubts that it was in the table, which in some regards is why I defended Ray Allen for leaving (never defended on how he left, he's always been dead to me).