Ray Allen In Highest Demand?

by Jeff Clark on Feb 28, 2012 6:05 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

This was mentioned yesterday, but I thought I would bring it up again.

Dwight Howard dominates NBA trade buzz but numerous others figure in talks - NBA - Sporting News

While there has been plenty of focus on Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, sources indicate Allen has generated the most interest from contenders. He is a knock-down perimeter shooter and a veteran who can blend well with any team. Even at age 36, Allen is in great shape and, as a free agent after the season, an easy fit into a team’s books. The Celtics don’t want to trade Allen, but if they continue to slide and are offered a young piece or a draft pick, making a deal would be hard to resist.

The thing with trade value is that it is a double edged sword. The guys that would bring the most in return are the guys you would least like to part with. I'm of the opinion that Ray Allen has like 2 or 3 good years ahead of him in his current outside shooting threat role. He is a plug-n-play stretch the floor guy that could help any contender. Which is exactly why, if the Celtics are going to be contenders this season or for the next few, that he should be kept around if at all possible.

But I have to agree with the author, if the Celtics do decide to go in another direction, then trading Ray for first rounder or a young player with high upside would be a reasonable return. He's also the easiest to move considering his expiring contract and the fact that he makes "only" $10M (in comparison to KG's $21M).

I would very much like to see Ray retire as a Celtic, but I could see him being the first to go as well.

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the good thing about trading ray is he can sign back with us this offseason. (unless the new cba prohibited that)

by RockinRyA on Feb 28, 2012 6:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Dun trade Ray!

unless he goes [back] to OKC for James Harden and a first rounder or sumtin, Boston and OKC only 2 teams i wanna see win the title this year

by SDK on Feb 28, 2012 6:53 AM EST reply actions

The trouble with Ray

Is that his best value to us isn’t what we would get back in a trade — assuming its to a contender — but how much we would improve our own draft position given how far we’d drop without him. Too bad basketball isn’t like baseball, where there is truly such a thing as a prospect. What young promising talents do the top contenders have whom we could get? Sadly, I fear trading Allen is more about our own draft position than that if the trading partner unless it’s the Bulls?

by Big_Easy on Feb 28, 2012 6:54 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Jeff, I definitely agree with you

Ray is the type of guy who could easily have another solid 2-3 years after this year. His contract is easy to manage for any team and is expiring unlike Pierce’s. He can also assimilate well into just about any team culture and system – something you’ve got to question with Rondo.

There’s a reason he’s generating so much interest – because he’s still pretty darn good and while he’s regressed slightly from an athletic/explosion standpoint, he’s still in great condition.

For those DH12 dreamers out there, Ray would also fit perfectly with him and possibly Rondo. I don’t think Ray should be traded. In fact, I think he would be a good player to keep around in a rebuild due to his high character and professionalism. He’s already said he wants to retire a Celtic. And contrary to what some people say, he is far from a defensive “liability.”

I don’t see any value the Celtics could get in a trade from a contender that would make it worth trading Ray. And if the deal is centered around a young player and a pick, it’s very likely that the Celtics would have to take back a bad contract to make the numbers work.

by Greg Knopping on Feb 28, 2012 6:58 AM EST reply actions

Not normal times

While in agreement with everything in Jeff’’s post and would also hate to see Ray go anywhere, it does have to be considered. Normally, chemistry needs to be a major consideration, but this year there does not seem to be any particular chemistry, even among the Big 3 (or 4 if you prefer) to upset. I have been in the camp of stay the course. Now I am slowly coming around to, not blow it up, as in a fire sale, but if a quality strategic move presents itself, then OK.
I have read all the different trade ideas and haven’t thought much of any of them. All are moves just for the sake of making a move, trying to win a banner this year with no concern about what happens after this season (panic button), or are unrealistic (like trade half the team to get Dwight Howard. Why would he want to come to Boston if the players who could help him get a ring won’t be here?) The only scenario I have seen that makes any sense other than playing out the string is here:

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/219177/The_Art_Of_The_Managed_Blow_Up

I would love to see this group win another title. I would also love to see them retire as Celtics. Just because I, or anyone else would love it will not necessarily make it so. The 2012 title is not nearly as important as possibly setting up a new dynasty for years to come.
Considering the age of the team, it is not so much about pulling the trigger as it is pulling the plug.

by DENNEE on Feb 28, 2012 7:46 AM EST reply actions

I'm also okay with pulling the trigger on a trade that is a "quality strategic move"

I just don’t think the Celtics will get that type of offer in a Ray Allen trade.

Why? Because Ray doesn’t make a “pretender” a “contender.” He could put a contender over the top, but at this point, he isn’t going to make an average playoff team into a top contender.

That being said, I don’t think there’s a contender that has the necessary trade chips that the Celtics would have to receive for Ray Allen.

Paul Pierce, on the other hand, could make a team like the Indiana Pacers a legitimate contender. Could a Granger for Pierce swap or Granger + Hill for Rondo swap make things interesting? Maybe. Don’t know if I’d pull it off if I’m the Celtics, but you just couldn’t get that kind of offer for Ray.

by Greg Knopping on Feb 28, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

This is tough.

I want to see a trade take place but when I think about it, I don’t want to see any of our players leave Boston!

O’Neal would be ok to move though, I’d be fine with that :)

by Pietrus & Cream on Feb 28, 2012 7:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I think there's a confusion of terms here.

“Most interest” doesn’t mean the most value, as in—willing to pay the most for.

Ray is a not unreasonably priced half-season rental. That he’s likely got a couple of years still in him is of marginal importance in the bidding for the contract that is up for sale.

His this-year services and expiring contract could mean more to the C’s than what the bidders are offering, and his expiring contract could mean more to the C’s than two more years of Pierce on the books, for example.

by clover on Feb 28, 2012 8:02 AM EST reply actions

honestly what's the chances you guys think

We could trade ray and kg for young guys and picks then they just come back at a like $5mil the next offseason?

by OFWG1554 on Feb 28, 2012 8:43 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Will O'Neal be hard to move if his wrist injury turns out to be severe?

One thought is no because he is an expiring contract. But it limits our trade partners to bottom feeders because no contender is going to want a center who cannot offer much this season. So which lottery candidate would take JO’s expiring contract and what can they offer us in return?

by JPV on Feb 28, 2012 9:23 AM EST reply actions

he was impossible to move before he hurt his wrist! and funny you should say "impossible to move"...physically he is almost there now on his own

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Feb 28, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

#1

by Big_Easy on Feb 28, 2012 8:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

#1

by Big_Easy on Feb 28, 2012 8:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

draft picks!

Basketball is the only sport that draft picks aren’t valuable. And i don’t get it! If the pacers have 14 million in space trade ray for as many draft picks as they can get. If they get 3 second round picks I would be ok with, look at some of the players drafted in round two boozer, Ellis, Jordan, Davis, ginobli etc. Get 2 seconds and a protected 1 I don’t care. Same with pierce and kg. Everyone keep saying you won’t get equal value for them, i disagree. If you stock up on picks and draft well you can find value that way.

Draft picks! Second round picks have value also. I wouldn’t trade all 3 of them for three second round picks, but spread out the picks over the next 3 years.

Get only expiring deals to make the contracts work. Foster, amundson, and 1 fist round, 2 second round picks for kg. Get bad, get picks, rebuild for q long term run.
Pierce may hold value to get a young player plus a 1st round pick. Ray also.

by jdunn123 on Feb 28, 2012 9:44 AM EST reply actions

Right now, we'd only really have room for future picks

Assuming we keep our 3 youngest players (AB, JJ & EM) and our coming 3 picks, that’s 6 spots on next year’s roster destined for players under 23 years of age.

Trading assets for draft picks creates the problem of ‘what to do with them’ because you only have so much room on the roster (15).

So you have to trade them back out either as picks or youngsters. Or you end up just getting rid of ‘em if they don’t pan out or can’t crack your roster and you can’t find someone to trade ’em too. And that happens a lot because other teams also have tight rosters.

There is only room in the NBA for 450 players and only a portion of rookies are going to crack that each year. This is a veteran dominated league.

In baseball, you can stash prospects in the minor leagues. ’No such ability in the NBA.

So what I’m saying is that a plethora of extra picks is not always a great thing. If you don’t have a good plan on what to do with them, they can end up essentially wasted.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Feb 28, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with you. I do. But. If let’s say they found a ginobli or Ellis type player. Or a jordan, Davis type in this past draft.. Sorry stiemsma, sorry sasha, sorry daniels your gone. Same next year, if its rebuild. Than get a lot of picks in round two and hope 1 or 2 stick. Having 2 first round picks and cap space for the next 3 years is a good thing not a bad thing. If its a weak draft trade both for a player in a spot similar to mayo, probably not coming back but had value.

by jdunn123 on Feb 28, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

This is not even an issue

Ray will sign with the C’s next year for the min and retire a Celtic. Why would you trade that? Same with KG…

Non story here…

Celtic Chat Handle: Bird

by David Henderson on Feb 28, 2012 9:59 AM EST reply actions

why would he settle with the vet min when he would be worth 4M-5M a year to contenders?

by Karasu on Feb 28, 2012 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

Why? Hopefully something called Loyalty....Danny might actually show some loyalty and smarts and in turn he might get some back...

Love Ray….he would be a great mentor, a great off court example, an excellent player-type coach, and a scoring threat off the bench.

I suspect Danny will start running mouth again in the press about “how he can trade anybody… No one is Sacred!!!!” Yeah….we know already Danny …your the man in charge and everybody is tradeable….but go ahead and tell us again…for everyone to see in case wwe forget

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Feb 28, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions