How long can Ray Allen play at this level?

[campybatman]

If you can get a bona-fide star in his mid twenties for Ray's expiring deal, clearly you have to look at it...but that being said, Ray projects into a significant role for this team for years to come at the right price...

Then again, Ainge could decide to let Ray play out his original contract. Remember, the national media were surprised after the trade deadline with Detroit not trading Iverson or R. Wallace or Cleveland not trading Szczerbiak or Portland not trading LaFrentz.

[Avalanche]

i know we all love ray, but we have to be willing to deal him next season if teams are getting despirate for cap space and make rush-trades with their younger stars

remember that if that did happen he would likely only be salary to them and we could attempt to sign him the following off season with the MLE

however, unless it was a big time upgrade im happy to keep him around, i wish Doc would run more plays for him in the 4th quarter

Who the man? You the man!

except im not trading him because i dont like him.. im just saying if the right player wanted out of his situation we would have to look at it.. teams like Denver or Dallas might bomb out in the playoffs and give up to a rebuild, teams with a star who wants out at the time due to a bad situation (no way of telling in advance who that will be)

Danny got perfect timing on trading FOR these guys, if the right deal comes up in the off-season or during the next we have to look at it, carefully

in the meantime, Rays great and I admire him on a basketball level and as a person, hes great for this team and i wish him all the success while he is here and wherever he goes if he does move on

as i said earlier he will be an amazing role player off the bench for contending teams for a lot of years yet

[Harison]

Ray probably has the greatest routine in the NBA, Among the big3 I can say that he has the greater conditioning. Pls read this so that you can probably think how long Ray can play at this level.
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... et/?page=1

Thanks for the link, I can understand Ray better now. He is less eccentric version of the Rain man Its nice his extra pre-game routine rubbed in to many players, including Rondo and Roy.

[Al-Haqq]

I don't like the idea of giving Ray Allen a 10-15 million deal per season after his contract ends.

[BillessuR6]

Another 2 years IMO. But obviously if we can get a younger allstar in return for his expiring contract we have to do it. That has nothing to do with Ray it is just the best option for the future of this franchise.

I am sure Danny will do the right thing. For now I just hope Ray continues to play like he has this season...

[Mahoney_jr]

The real shame, when somebody is buying into a more passive or more receiving role is the underappreciation for his services. (@ Spud34 e.g.)

Ray will play for another seven years in the NBA. And he'll be worth any penny.

[floyd]

The real shame, when somebody is buying into a more passive or more receiving role is the underappreciation for his services. (@ Spud34 e.g.)

Ray will play for another seven years in the NBA. And he'll be worth any penny.

I know. Everyone can't initiate the offense. Ray's changed his game to fit this team. So he's not a playmaker, but he finishes those plays. Not everyone can do that. Just look at who Paul used to pass the ball to two years ago.

[Dave_From_NB]

Some guys are lazy. Some guys have low bbb iq. Some guys are injury prone. But Ray is a hard worker, smart, and 1 year aside, doesn't seem to have had injury concerns. I think some players have a very fast drop-off in performance, because their bb iq isn't high enough to compensate for degrading physical skills, or they're not prepared to work harder to stay in shape. But Ray, and in fact PP and KG, have long careers written all over them. I could see all 3 play into their late 30's if their desire stays intact, and be still at a pretty high level with lessened minutes.

[sully00]

Does anyone even play these scenarios through in their heads?

Everyone thinks the Lakers stole Gasol from Memphis and they gave up essentially 3 1st round draft picks and an expiring contract. Even if Boston could find a team as desperate for cap relief who had a player worth moving Ray for what are you going to give that team? Were are the 3 1st round picks coming from? We don't have any young talent that another team would want starting for them or any kind of stockpile of draft picks.

Sure you could move Ray Allen for Corey Maggette, because he is friggin toxic and doesn't help his team win and his contract sucks. You could move him for a player of a similar age with more years on his deal like Baron Davis or injury prone like Michael Redd. But the Hawks aren't going to wake up some morning and decide they need to trade Joe Johnson for Ray Allen.

The best you can hope for is a Kidd/Harris trade, but that is the whole point if you are trying to win a championship your the team that wants Kidd not the young guy that may not really be worth the contract he was given or at best needs 4 or 5 years to develop.

Something may happen, especially with the economy the way it is, that is too good to be true. I think it may have almost come together this off season over Yao Ming. Perhaps WAS decides it has to rip it up and asks Boston to take Butler and Jamison for Ray Allen and a crazy financial deal makes this a reality but I don't think it is an organizational plan.

Take things for what they are and hope to see more nights like you did in NJ with Perk going for 17/10 and Rondo scoring at will and you will realize that the next Ray Allen is already here. Hopefully Ainge can continue to pick through the guys who are a little too short, fat, young, injured or crazy for everyone else taste and find some players.

[Kids Are Alright]

Ray works really well with a Captain like PIerce and a distributor like Rondo.
He did slack off on defense against the Nets the other night.

Keeper.

[GreenDreamer]

Ray is already starting to slide as a player. I like the guy, but he is having more and more difficulty creating his own shot which is the key attribute of the elite scorers. That's why Pierce is teh clearly better scorer, as you can basically just give him the ball and he can generate a good shot all on his own.

Rondo and Pierce have done a lot for Ray this season (and he has done a good deal for them as well).
As a floor spacer he is still one of the best in the business. He simply can not be left alone at any time, and defenses must pay a lot of attention to him. This is where playing with a guy like Rondo makes Ray very dangerous, as Rajon can basically find him any time Ray breaks free. K.G. is also very good for Ray in this regard.

If the right deal came along I'd be willing to move Ray. If a situation came up next season where we could move Ray for a really good player,or a pair of them, and the team taking Ray on would then immediately buy him out, then I'd do that in a heart beat. Wait the 30 days, and then bring him back with the intent of signing him to the full MLE afterwards. A little ceativity would help.

[billfromBoston]

Absolutely CANNOT agree with the assessment that Ray Allen is slipping when he's putting up all-time highs in efficiency...I don't care if he's losing bits of his individual speed or explosiveness - his game is predicated on endurance and long range shooting - we're not evaluating Allen's individual ability, but his ability to perform at a high level for this team.

As long as Rondo continues to develop his game, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG can feed off each others respective strengths and maintain effeciency by sticking to specific roles and complementing each other...this is a classic case of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole...KG help defends, rebounds, hits jumpers and facilitates the offense from the high post...Pierce posts, hits mid-range shots, and spots from 3...Ray runs through picks and spots from 3...Rondo continues to grow as a scorer and leads the offense more and more - the GPA trio can play high-level roles off of him for at least another 3-5 years...

[Banks2Pierce]

Yea, I don't see Ray slipping at all either. He has actually been awesome this year with lift in traffic in the lane. He looks even better than last year. The guy doesn't drink and counts his calories....he's got a few more years at a high level, IMO.

[campybatman]

I remember a poster was open to trading Ray if it could land Boston Wade. I don't see that scenario playing out. However, just curious, would anyone have an interest in trading for Monta Ellis?

[NES 247]

Better question: Do would possibly shop Ray next season when he is an expiring? I think we talk it out with Ray and ask if he'll take a paycut and a one year deal first and then go from there.

[campybatman]

Ray is out performing himself from last season. Everyone has noticed... Before, my thoughts were that Ainge could be tempted to trade off his expiring contract before the trade deadline next season if offers came in. Now, I don't know... But, one thing's for certain: He can still perform at an All-Star level and has been named to the All-Star game (as an injury replacement) two years running in Boston. Does he sign an extension for less to remain in Boston or sign else where for likely more money?

[DieselCeltic]

Ray is out performing himself from last season. Everyone has noticed... Before, my thoughts were that Ainge could be tempted to trade off his expiring contract before the trade deadline next season if offers came in. Now, I don't know... But, one thing's for certain: He can still perform at an All-Star level and has been named to the All-Star game (as an injury replacement) two years running in Boston. Does he sign an extension for less to remain in Boston or sign else where for likely more money?

I can't see him pulling the same move like Posey did. Allen made plenty of money in his career and I think he wants to retire somewhere close to his family and just end his career in Boston!

Not to mention the bond he developed with KG and Pierce. I just want all of our guys back next year..KG..PP..RAY...HOUSE..MARBS..POWE..PERKINS..RONDO..AND THE REST OF THE SQUAD...

This unit right there can be something that Detroit had for long time in the Billups era. Guys grow together, play together and get more and more comfortable.

I have a strong feeling KG PP AND RA will all retire in Boston.

[campybatman]

Yeah, Pierce and Garnett won't let him go. I bet they'll both be vocal to Ainge on his behave this off season. Especially, if Boston can pull-off the repeat this season. Pierce will cite the Lakers keeping Shaq and Kobe together long enough to win a championship three seasons in a row. Why can't Boston attempt to duplicate that same success now?

I think Ray's thinking more about his legacy as a NBA player than money. But, Ainge can't low-ball him either.

The one question I've of Ray is: Will he play as long as Reggie Miller in order to pass him on the all-time list for three-pointers made? Or how many more seasons does he want to play in general?

[Celts17Pride]

Ray is already starting to slide as a player.

This discussion is about Ray Allen not Tony Allen.

Ray Allen is having a career year. Shooting career highs in FG Pct and FT Pct and almost 3-pt Pct. I couldn't disagree with you more about Ray Allen.