Ray Allen and Gollum

[LarBrd33]

Fairly common for vets to do this.  Maybe not someone as notable as Ray Allen, but it's not unheard of.   PJ Brown was a 3 time all-defense player and he did something like this back in 2008.

On February 27, 2008, after resting for most of the 2007-08 season and weighing his options, Brown signed with the Boston Celtics for the remainder of the season, in order to bolster their front court.[8][9] His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend.[10] The San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets were interested in his services, but he wasn't particularly intrigued by the offers, instead choosing the Celtics who tried to convince him to sign throughout most of the season.[11] He made his debut against the Chicago Bulls, his former team, on March 7, 2008.

I'm sure there are other examples of this, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Also, the hate for Ray is unwarranted.  He was a key player on our title team.  Ainge tried trading him for years.  Ainge actually DID trade him at one point, but the deal fell through.  Ray had lost his role to Avery Bradley.  The team was on the verge of bottoming out.  He knew he could contribute to a contender... and he was right.  On Miami he ended up hitting arguably the biggest 3-pointer in NBA finals history.  Meanwhile, Boston got swept in the 1st round and then dumped their entire team for draft picks.   Ray saw the inevitable and didn't want to waste another season.  He made the right move.

[thirstyboots18]

Michael Jorden?

This is tough to respond to because you give no context to explain how it is related to the topic at hand.

If you are saying Michael Jordan came back halfway through a season, he did, but it was to play for his original team where he had spent his whole career. He did not wait halfway through a season to determine which team had the best record and decide to sign with them. He also was clearly the best player on the team when he came back as opposed to a role player that could hit 3 pointers.

If you are referring to his time with the wizards, I don't think anyone would argue he was chasing a ring in those situations.

In just about any way, comparing ray allen to jordan is a huge insult to jordan.

I don't think it is an insult.  Michael was one of the best ever players.  Ray was no slouch, either.  Each had earned the right to play in the best situation available to him.

[Redz]

didn't Tim Hardaway sort of did this too (though he was pretty much a scrub by then).

[D.o.s.]

If it was easy maybe you could have come up with an example that was accurate? Gary Payton never joined a team halfway through a season to chase a ring. Although he did sign with the Lakers and Heat later in his career in hopes of getting a ring, he never sat around half a season waiting to pick the best team. Also for what it is worth Payton hadn't won a ring at that point. Allen already has two, making his behavior more unique. So we can try again, has a hall of famer player ever sat out half a season and then joined the best team after the all star break before as a role player? (I am not saying it hasn't happened, but if it has, it certainly isn't common)

If you want to get literal, I'm sure there are plenty of unsigned Hall of Famers who sat around waiting to be signed by the best team in the league after the all star break. Remember, he hasn't actually joined a team yet.

But since I'm now more aware of what you're asking (I thought you were asking for Hall of Fame talent who bounced around ring chasing for the last ends of their careers), how about Tracy McGrady?

[moiso]

I hope he comes back and joins a good team, preferably one that I like and not the Cavs.  I still like watching him play but I'm a little sick of seeing him playing with Lebron.

[GratefulCs]

I hope he comes back and joins a good team, preferably one that I like and not the Cavs.  I still like watching him play but I'm a little sick of seeing him playing with Lebron.

I agree!


I would LOVE it if he joined the spurs or the Hawks


But i have a feeling that he still has a crush on Lebroid

[celticsclay]

I will give you a tp for mcgrady. I was actually just writing up a response that mentioned him when I timed out. He is a really interesting case because his signing still confuses me to this day. He signed with the Spurs in April right before the playoffs and played something like a grand total of 5 minutes in the playoffs. I think the spurs were the only team that offered him a spot, but then they didn't play him.

 If memory serves correct he didn't even play when the spurs had a few minor injuries. At that point Mcgrady had become an NBA vagabond after his health betrayed him in Houston. He had forgettable stops in Detroit, New York, Atlanta, China and then ultimately San Antonio. It could just be personal bias, but I had a lot more sympathy for mcgrady trying to extend his career because after the 2007-2008 season he only had one season where he didn't miss at least 30 games and in general the way injuries impacted his career was just kind of sad.

Overall, my point remains that is very unusual for a hall of fame player to sit out  more then half a season and then pick the team with the best record (and not particularly cool). Roger Clemens did something similar in baseball but he was at least going to teams that he had ties to. I guess when you start getting yourself in the same boat as Clemens it is not a good sign.

[GetLucky]

The thread title had me like

[celticsclay]

Fairly common for vets to do this.  Maybe not someone as notable as Ray Allen, but it's not unheard of.   PJ Brown was a 3 time all-defense player and he did something like this back in 2008.

On February 27, 2008, after resting for most of the 2007-08 season and weighing his options, Brown signed with the Boston Celtics for the remainder of the season, in order to bolster their front court.[8][9] His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend.[10] The San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets were interested in his services, but he wasn't particularly intrigued by the offers, instead choosing the Celtics who tried to convince him to sign throughout most of the season.[11] He made his debut against the Chicago Bulls, his former team, on March 7, 2008.

I'm sure there are other examples of this, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Also, the hate for Ray is unwarranted.  He was a key player on our title team.  Ainge tried trading him for years.  Ainge actually DID trade him at one point, but the deal fell through.  Ray had lost his role to Avery Bradley.  The team was on the verge of bottoming out.  He knew he could contribute to a contender... and he was right.  On Miami he ended up hitting arguably the biggest 3-pointer in NBA finals history.  Meanwhile, Boston got swept in the 1st round and then dumped their entire team for draft picks.   Ray saw the inevitable and didn't want to waste another season.  He made the right move.

Come on. PJ Brown was really solid NBA level starter but he never made an all star team, never averaged 12 points or even 10 rebounds in an NBA season. But he was never a star and certainly not a hall of fame level player.

While I certainly view Pierce and Ray Allen very differently, I would think it was pretty lame if Pierce had sat out 2/3 of the season and then signed on with the cavs in March. Wouldn't the blog collectively throw up?

[Neurotic Guy]

Help me with my memory but wasn't there a 'Sheed buzz mid-way through at one point?

Not a HOFer, but in the adjacent ballpark.

Like Allen, Sheed (I think) was recruited and I think ended up declining -- but I can't really recall how it went down.  Did he come back mid-year with another team?

[celticsclay]

Help me with my memory but wasn't there a 'Sheed buzz mid-way through at one point?

Not a HOFer, but in the adjacent ballpark.

Like Allen, Sheed (I think) was recruited and I think ended up declining -- but I can't really recall how it went down.  Did he come back mid-year with another team?

Sheed did something pretty crazy. After retiring from the Celtics after 2010 he sat out for two full years. He then signed with the Knicks before the 2012-13 season (who definitely were not considered title contenders). Then played about 15 minutes a game for them for the first 6 weeks of the season before getting hurt and not coming back until april. I was kind of bummed he didn't have a better comeback.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Help me with my memory but wasn't there a 'Sheed buzz mid-way through at one point?

Not a HOFer, but in the adjacent ballpark.

Like Allen, Sheed (I think) was recruited and I think ended up declining -- but I can't really recall how it went down.  Did he come back mid-year with another team?

Sheed did something pretty crazy. After retiring from the Celtics after 2010 he sat out for two full years. He then signed with the Knicks before the 2012-13 season (who definitely were not considered title contenders). Then played about 15 minutes a game for them for the first 6 weeks of the season before getting hurt and not coming back until april. I was kind of bummed he didn't have a better comeback.

I don't really remember it well but wasn't he contributing before the injury? He probably thought he needed a lot of time to get himself into shape to not look a mess out there. I like Sheed, he seems like he would be a lot of fun to be around.

[celts10]

Help me with my memory but wasn't there a 'Sheed buzz mid-way through at one point?

Not a HOFer, but in the adjacent ballpark.

Like Allen, Sheed (I think) was recruited and I think ended up declining -- but I can't really recall how it went down.  Did he come back mid-year with another team?

Pretty sure Sheed was all set to join the Lakers in Feb 2012. Don't remember all the details but it didn't go through.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

The thread title had me like

Man, that thing is hideous!


I don't like Ray but I would keep getting paid too, by any team that would have me. Maybe he did right with his money but another mil or 2 is nothing to pass on. Look at Toine, he could use some of that right now.

[thirstyboots18]

Charles Barkley,  Clyde drexler, Karl malone