Ray Allen hints at retirement

Ray Allen is old, just like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. He's currently chasing a title in South Beach but his thoughts have drifted to his career's end.

BUCKS BEAT: Allen considering retirement : Basketball

"It's possible, yeah," Allen said. "Who knows what's going to happen over the course of the summer? I have two years left on my contract. We'll see how it goes." ...

"I don't know when I'll retire," said Allen, who began his pro career in Milwaukee in 1996 and spent six-plus productive seasons with the Bucks before being dealt to Seattle. "I'd like to get through the year first. I feel great; my body feels good. I just got to get through.

"I'm at a point where I've been pretty successful and I've gotten to the point where I really understand the game and how to play it. But I'm not going to be that guy who just hangs on. At some point, I can let it go."

He has a player option for next year, but it sounds like he might just say "thanks but no thanks." He proved this summer that the money isn't important.

By the way, Jessica Camerato has some interesting quotes from players around the league that are convinced that the Celtics are missing what Ray Allen brings to the table. Here's a sample.

Opponents: Celtics are 'missing Ray'

Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls) "It’s going to be difficult. Ray Allen takes so much attention and he gets guys shots. He made a big difference for them. You could always replace everyone. It’s just, how do you do it? It’s not going to be one guy. Don’t think that you’re going to bring one guy in and he’s going to just fill in the shoes. It takes a team effort and a team goes in a different direction, whether it’s Paul Pierce or Kevin or [Rajon] Rondo who are scoring more. I think people fall into, ‘This guy’s gone, so this guy has to be that guy.’ It’s never like that. Every individual is different. That’s why every time you get a superstar in the NBA, people want to compare the new player to him and it’s never the same because everyone is so different, our fingerprints are different. You’re just not going to get the same thing."

Yeah, things aren't the same, that's for sure. Would they have been better with Ray? I'm not sure, but we'll never know.