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For the past few days we've been hearing rumors that the Boston Celtics
might be willing to part with Ray Allen before the start of the 2009-2010 season. HOOPSWORLD asked around in Chicago, where the majority of NBA executives were taking a look at most of the first round draft prospects, and managed to find out a few more details. We have now added to those, with the help of WEEI's Jessica Camerato in Boston.

Off the record, we have several sources telling us that Ray Allen is, indeed, on the block. It's easy to make the leap, as the Celtics have managed to develop some nice young talent around their Big Three while also managing to win a championship. They might have even repeated had Kevin Garnett been healthy. It's not a stretch to say the Celtics would part with Allen, who has an ending contract next season, if they could add another top young player to the mix.

On the record we have an added wrinkle - one that we thought to be highly unlikely until we found it reported with a quote attributed to Celtics GM Danny Ainge. It seems the Celtics are willing to package Rajon Rondo with Allen to make the right deal happen

"He's stubborn," Ainge told ESPN's Jackie MacMullen. "He doesn't always take direction well. He's very bright and knows what he needs to do to be successful. But sometimes he doesn't understand what the team needs to be successful."

Doc Rivers expressed similar sentiments, which he directed at Rondo himself earlier this season.

"Do you know your teammates hate playing with you? ... The point guard has to be the guy that brings energy to the team. You can't be the guy that sucks it away. Your moodiness is affecting us. Change it."

At the same time, Rondo has guys like Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins saying he's their leader and they believe in him. And while there is a great deal to be said for patience and seeing if Rondo will improve as much next season as he did in 2008-09, there is certainly a lot of negativity coming from the decision-makers - enough to fuel trade speculation.

The latest rumor making its way around - and we're not hearing that there is any truth to it, on or off the record - has the Phoenix Suns sending Amar'e Stoudemire (of course) to the Celtics in a package for Rondo and Allen, with Leandro Barbosa also included in the deal.

So . . .who gets benched? Kevin Garnett? Kendrick Perkins? You're talking about the best defensive front court in the NBA a season ago. Sitting Perkins removes a strong defender and replaces him with a true defensive screen door.

There is definitely some truth to the idea that the Celtics would move Ray Allen - and maybe even Rajon Rondo - is the right deal came along. As for the Suns coming up with the right deal, that seems highly unlikely.



http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12861

Certainly seems like he is shopping these guys. Won't say my goodbyes and thank you's yet to the both of them, but it does look like there will be some rumors that we will have to debate and discuss.

Crazy trade idea time of the year. Where is Cfan?

I wouldn't doubt that Danny's doing all he can to cash in his two most profitable chips, however those quotes about Rondo are taken out of context. They were used in an article released during the second round of the playoffs to show how far he's come along. The Doc quote was from his rookie year, and I think the guys like playing with him now since he was(will be?) a part of Perk's wedding. I've seen Hoopsworld referred to as Poopsworld on other boards, are they credible?

here's the original article by jackie mac if anyone's interested that missed it http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... ndo-090423

With all the Ray trades it feels like a few seasons ago when we had Ratliff's expiring to work with.

I don't think so. Rondo was our best player in the playoffs. He was the reason we beat Chicago. We are trying to another title next season. We might have won it again this year if KG was healthy. We need to add a few good roles players, we don't be to substract Rondo and Ray.

Get Barnes or Ariza. Get Zaza or McDyess and we have a great chance.

The Rondo quote was from the PREVIOUS year (the 24-win season). There was a lot of bad things going on that season, and Rondo was the least of it.

Of course Rondo and Ray could be traded, but let's not act like anyone wants them run out of town.

Kefa461 wrote:Off the record, we have several sources telling us that Ray Allen is, indeed, on the block. It's easy to make the leap, as the Celtics have managed to develop some nice young talent around their Big Three while also managing to win a championship. They might have even repeated had Kevin Garnett been healthy. It's not a stretch to say the Celtics would part with Allen, who has an ending contract next season, if they could add another top young player to the mix.

The next time Bill Ingram is right about something will be the first time he is right about something.

Those quotes are from old articles. Hoopsworld is trash. Definitely an anti-Celtic site (FU Steve Kyler!!). My opinion of that site is so low, and If Hoopsworld was printed on paper and I just finished taking a ****, I wouldn't even wipe my ass with it. It's that bad.

Stop killing the messenger. Surely, hoopshype isn't extremely credible, but there is probably a kernel of truth here.

Rondo isn't a top 5 PG, and he isn't an all-star. We shouldn't pay him like one. And, I am also perplexed at Rondo's lack of energy at times. He is moody as the old quote suggests.

The more I get away from the playoffs, the less I like him.

jfs1000d wrote:
Rondo isn't a top 5 PG, and he isn't an all-star. We shouldn't pay him like one. And, I am also perplexed at Rondo's lack of energy at times. He is moody as the old quote suggests.

The more I get away from the playoffs, the less I like him.

QFT

I think Ray Allen's contract is worth WAY more than Ratliff's a few reasons why.

#1 - It is near $19 million as opposed to Ratliff's $11.7 million
#2 - Ray Allen is still a valuable player
#3 - The economy has made teams regret several of there signings/trades the last few years. Teams are looking to get salary relief. Not I am not talking salary cap - but real $$$ savings that have nothing to do with basketball. If your team is losing millions and you see no end in sight and after 2010 you can improve your balance sheet $19 million you do it.

yeah, the doc quote was from rondo's rookie year wtf
this guy is just making stuff up

If this is true, I wouldn't think it has as much to do with Ray being on the block or wanting to move Rondo. On the contrary were is Amare most frequently rumored to be going? If you are Boston you have got to stick your nose in there and make sure you drive up the price at least and maybe get in the way if you can. Let's be honest if CLE puts Amare with LeBron we can all pretty much pray for an injury.

I mean of course Ray is available if anyone else is having a fire sale on 25/10 big men.

Doc Rivers expressed similar sentiments, which he directed at Rondo himself earlier this season.

"Do you know your teammates hate playing with you? ... The point guard has to be the guy that brings energy to the team. You can't be the guy that sucks it away. Your moodiness is affecting us. Change it."

This is out of context. This is what Doc told Rondo after his rookie season. Not this past season. I am not sure about the other quote.

(of course I now notice that this had already been pointed out)

Luxurytaxlotterybust wrote:I think Ray Allen's contract is worth WAY more than Ratliff's a few reasons why.

#1 - It is near $19 million as opposed to Ratliff's $11.7 million
#2 - Ray Allen is still a valuable player
#3 - The economy has made teams regret several of there signings/trades the last few years. Teams are looking to get salary relief. Not I am not talking salary cap - but real $$$ savings that have nothing to do with basketball. If your team is losing millions and you see no end in sight and after 2010 you can improve your balance sheet $19 million you do it.

It's worth more than Ratliff's, but Ratliff's didn't fetch anything without giving up Al...

I don't think any team that wants to dump salary cares much one way or another that Ray is still a valuable player. They are looking to dump salary, period. Meanwhile, the fact that he's still valuable makes it all the less worthwhile for us to trade him - he's worth much more to us than he is to anyone else.

It's a no-brainer to dump a contract like Ratliff's and use it to add a player who is overpaid and who someone wants to dump. It would be a very difficult decision to trade a core player like Ray Allen for a player who is overpaid who someone wants to dump.

And, I think it would be easier to find an 11 million dollar player who fits than it would a 19 million player. A guy like Nocioni (or Posey) would be a good fit for us but could be perceived as overpaid by other teams. But a max salary, a 19 million dollar guy - either he's the star of his team and untouchable, or he's really old, overpaid, and a serious albatross contract. If a max contract player is available as a salary dump - it's unlikely that he's worth trading Ray Allen for.

Although Stoudemire is a unique situation, as was Gasol...

Like always though, I think the value of the expiring contract is overrated. When the expiring contract is one of your stars like Ray Allen, it kind of defeats the point of trading an expiring.

They're probably just gauging Rondo's value after his decent playoff run. I find it hard to believe that the Celtics would make such a huge shakeup. Unless they believe they can't compete with the Lakers as presently constructed =D!

lol @ rondo having a decent playoff run

What? I'm not a hater, I can admit that Rondo did okay in the playoffs. Yes his lack of a jumpshot was a HUGE problem as I chronicled throughout the playoffs, but he wasn't THE reason why the Celtics lost.

The issue I think most people are glossing over is that Ray is a $50 bill, trying to play a $10 role. If we had two $20 players instead of Ray we likely survive Orlando and quite possibly Cleveland.

If you only look at Ray's talent instead of fit, of course you are going to be convinced that he is irreplaceable. It is the same trap that many fell into with Al Jefferson, as well.

Pogue Mahone wrote:The issue I think most people are glossing over is that Ray is a $50 bill, trying to play a $10 role. If we had two $20 players instead of Ray we likely survive Orlando and quite possibly Cleveland.

If you only look at Ray's talent instead of fit, of course you are going to be convinced that he is irreplaceable. It is the same trap that many fell into with Al Jefferson, as well.

I agree, we have to use Ray's contract to help prolong our longevity as a title contender. We don't want to just sit back like Cleveland did with Wally's contract and have nothing to show for it. Our bench sucks right now also. Most of the positions have a player who sucks or a young inexperienced player at it.