Allen should be a keeper
His name is on The List, right there with LeBron, Dwyane and the rest of the marquee 2010 free agents. Ray Allen might well be going to the Hall of Fame one day, but he’s also going on 35 (next July 20) and, statistically, is down in just about every offensive category.
So, time to trade him, right? Get younger, find a team eager to absorb an expiring contract and go from there. Amazingly, those scenarios were out there a few weeks back, offered anonymously, of course, and coinciding with Allen’s early-season shooting woes. They are as ludicrous now as they were back then. Ray Allen isn’t going anywhere - nor should he.
Why would the Celtics even remotely entertain parting with Allen, who has been everything they wanted and possibly more in his two-plus seasons in Boston? (My guess? They’re not.) He still demands coverage and respect, as he demonstrated last Tuesday when he blitzed the Bobcats for 27 points, knocking down five of six three-pointers. Prior to that game, he had been shooting 30 percent from three-point range (his career average is 39.7) and an even uglier 26 percent over the previous six games.
To that, the Celtics and Allen say, ‘so what?’
He’s been through these kinds of things before, most notably in the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he couldn’t make anything. (He always contended he wasn’t in a slump but, rather, wasn’t getting enough shots.) He came out of it rather nicely against the Pistons in the conference finals and then had an excellent NBA Finals, making one of the signature baskets of the series, the blow-by of Sasha Vujacic at the end of Game 4, sealing an improbable Celtics come-from-behind victory. (He also had another memorable basket in that game, a baseline, under the basket drive for layup.)
Allen’s name did come up last summer in trade rumors, when the Celtics were supposedly gauging interest in Rajon Rondo. (The team’s general manager, Danny Ainge, denies they were ever seriously interested in trading Rondo, but other GMs swear the Celtics were listening.) To many teams, Allen would be a valuable pickup, but, in a testament to the times, the value would likely be due to more to his contract than his game.
Ainge has not divulged his end-game strategy for Allen, but it has to involve keeping him in Boston after this season. Originally, when the Celtics made the deals for Allen and Kevin Garnett, observers gave them a three-year window to win, primarily because that was the length remaining on Allen’s contract. This is Year 3. They’ve already won one championship and, after a four-game road sweep of Miami, Charlotte, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, are 16-4 and looking very much like they’ll be in the chase to the end once again.
That chase will have to include Allen. He enjoys being in Boston (who wouldn’t with the teammates he has?) and continues to show he is still effective. His son, Walker, is getting top-of-the-line treatment for juvenile diabetes in Boston at one of the great medical centers of the world. (There was a rumor over the summer that his daughter Tierra, a junior in high school, might move from South Carolina to live with her dad for the last two years of high school. Alas, that did not happen.)
It isn’t as if Allen has gone Kevin Costner on the Celtics or anything like that. He’s averaging 15.6 points a game and has an overall shooting percentage of 46.3. Only twice in his career has he bettered that; last year (48 percent) and 2000-01 (48 percent.) Doc Rivers is keeping the minutes down. Allen is still almost automatic at the line (93.3 percent.) He won’t be a candidate for the All-Defensive Team anytime soon, but, like Paul Pierce, has emerged as a top-notch team defender in the Celtics’ schemes, anchored and egged-on by the indefatigable Garnett.
“You never talked about Ray playing defense before he got to Boston,’’ said the Suns’ coach, Alvin Gentry. “He’s probably playing the best defense of his career.”
Also, there is no overstating Allen’s value in the locker room and as a mentor to the younger players, particularly Rondo. Allen made a point of taking Rondo under his wing two years ago and Rondo has been an eager and absorbent protégé (although he still can be an occasional handful.) Allen’s practice habits, his professional demeanor, his “every day is Groundhog Day in the NBA” approach to the grind of a season are all enviable (and not all that common) attributes.
Allen has expressed a desire to play beyond this year and keeps himself in excellent shape. Generally, in the NBA, the guards start to lose it first, right around where Allen is now. But I can easily see the Celtics re-signing Allen for two or three more years. Reggie Miller, remember, played very well and very competitively to the age of 40. There’s no reason to think Allen can’t do the same.
Garnett has two more years on his deal and Pierce, who can opt out of is contract at the end of this season, has one more. Either way, they’re both going to be around next year. There’s no reason to expect Allen won’t be with them, certainly not on the part of the Celtics.
Let LeBron and the others steal the limelight. Allen will be perfectly content to re-up and stay where he is.
And when he does, you just might want to keep that window ajar a little while longer.
RTroy Said,
December 5, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Ray Allen is the classiest ballplayer Boston has had since John Havlicek. His work ethic, his personality, and his devotion to the team in general, make him a lock to continue in green. What Ray does cannot often be seen in the stats. He is a tireless worker, running the floor constantly, keeping the opposition guessing. I am a true Ray Allen fan from way back when he was in college. It is just a shame that it took so long to get him into a Boston Celtic uniform, this is where he belongs.
Skraight Up Said,
December 5, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Ray-Ray is one of my favorite players in the league. I am however a bit biased considering I was a shooter as well. Allen though seperates himself from the rest of the league by his character. He’s always been a class act, leader, and has always been a clutch performer. He’s been a wonderful fit with KG & PP, and after helping to bring back a chip to bean town, he’s well-deserving of a new contract with the Celtics. What if…Boston opted not to bring Ray-Ray back and went after T-Mac(considering he was healthy)?
G-reg Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 1:39 am
I says keeps him.
Ricardo Araújo Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 7:58 am
Ray’s a class act but Ainge must keep all options open.
Marco Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 8:17 am
Ray is a class act but to claim he is a marquee player with the likes of LeBron and Wade? Please. Peter, I know you wrote for the Globe but this statement really reeks of homerisim. I can just the Nets and their 35 million saying “nah, let’s not make a play for LBJ or D-Wade, we can land Ray Allen!”. Ray is good and still has a lot in the tank but his consistency is fading and he is old. He really faded in the Orlando series last year and his shot can disappear for stretches at a time during games. We shouldn’t trade him as his expiring contract is worth more in the upcoming free agent bonanza. I would consider resigning him but it would have to be a drastic reduction and for only 1 year. For this season, I can’t see trading him unless a really, really good deal comes our way as (again) his free agent cap relief will be more valuable.
GP Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Ray has to come to his senses , if we wants the Celts to keep winning
he must help with the cap .
Ray you are 35 , 2 years at 8 mil a year is all you are worth
Today’s Celtics Links 12/6 « Flceltsfan’s Weblog Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
[...] Oden expected to miss rest of season Hoopshype NBA Rumors Sunday, December 6 Allen should be a keeper Telegram Investment in Perkins paying off for Celtics NBA Mate Sunday Six Pack: Bad Shot [...]
J Said,
December 7, 2009 @ 3:13 am
He’s staying in Boston (99% chance) because it’s too late in his career to experiment with another unless maybe a duo of LeBron/Wade/Bosh decide to play on the same team.
TJ Said,
December 7, 2009 @ 11:21 am
Ray Allen is classy?
How about when he punched Varajo in the nuts and was suspended for a game?
He is another Boston thug.
Porky Said,
December 7, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
When Ray gets his second ring later this season then he has a right to retire.
hobo Said,
December 7, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
lakers rule!!!
Joe Said,
December 8, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
He should stay in Boston, obviously. There’s something to be said for keeping your core together as long as possible… that’s what Detroit and San Antonio did when they were good for so many years (as the Spurs still are).
Allen, Pierce and KG are all very close together in age, so it only makes sense to keep them all together and try to make 1 or 2 more runs at a title. After that, get rid of them all and re-build.
Oh, and Marco: even if they let him walk, they would still be over the salary cap next summer… so there’s no possible way they’ll be able to sign a free agent for anything more than the MLE. It makes no difference if Allen leaves, or if they pay him $8 million per year, or $12 million per year. In any scenario they’re already over the cap, so there’s really no difference.
Skraight Up Said,
December 8, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
No way the Lakers loose to the Celts or the Magic in the finals…
Marco Said,
December 9, 2009 @ 9:25 am
TJ-Compared to Kobe Ray Allen is the ambassador of class.
Lakers lose to the Celtics in the finals.
Celtics-Team with the most championships ever in the history of the NBA. Not the Lakers.
Jamba Jew Said,
December 12, 2009 @ 4:36 am
has anyone wondered why Jason and Jarron Collins are still in the league? They have both sucked for years, but they both still have jobs. They can’t shoot, are slow, play foul oriented defense, and are slow! Sign my petition to get them kicked out.
p.s. Andre Miller might be traded, um obviously that was a horrible signing to begin with. He can’t shoot or play D, which is what Portland needed!!
Phil Morant Said,
December 12, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Jesus is that dude!! A stand up guy who represents the NBA very well. He will be in the Hall of Fame, He is “The Best Shooter in the NBA”, and the Celtics will be stupid to let him go. Ray is my homey and I’m a Orlando Magic fan and wish we got him instead of Vince Carter but that is the nature of the business. Ray is that guy.
Shout out to South Carolina, that’s where we got it in HHS (Hillcrest High School)