The Celtics can get the best value in return for Ray Allen from a team that REALLY needs to free up cap space.  There are two categories of teams that want to create cap space: (1) Those teams which are in financial trouble and want to unload bad contracts, and (2) Those teams who can really improve themselves this summer by landing one of the premium free agents.

So, which teams are most highly motivated to get that expiring contract of Ray Allen's?  In regard to those teams who are in financial trouble, will they hurt themselves with attendance if they give away a young star in order to dump payroll?  Is that worth it?  How motivated are the owners to trade ("give") away an important player? 

I think the more motivated teams may be the ones who have a realistic shot at getting one of the premium free agents this summer, but need help getting enough cap space to make it happen.  And what team might that be?  Which teams have a realistic chance of getting a premium free agent?  76ers?  I doubt it.  Who would want to go to that mess?  Especially if Iggy is traded away.  No, I think the most motivated trading partner would be the Chicago Bulls.  They have a very good chance of getting Wade and maintaining a good young core, but only if they can dump enough salary by this summer.  In order to do that, they need to dump Hinrich.   That is difficult to do.  I doubt Danny Ainge thinks Hinrich is worth it.  I doubt he thinks Hinrich and Thomas are worth it either.  But, what about Deng?  I bet the Bulls would be desperate enough to trade Deng along with Hinrich in order to get Ray Allen's expiring contract and a shot at Wade.  What do you think?  More importantly, what does Jim Paxton think?

74 more hours to go...we'll see what happens!