Ray Allen contract extension?????

[BillessuR6]

I am strongly against an extension. Not because I don`t like Ray but his expiring contract will be a big asset. The flexibility and options it gives us are huge...

[Avalanche]

I am strongly against an extension. Not because I don`t like Ray but his expiring contract will be a big asset. The flexibility and options it gives us are huge...

yep, i think we have to sit on the expiring contract, and see how the early season plays out..

how the celtics, including ray do early on, and even up to the deadline

also see the state of the league, and the always possible unhappy superstar, or involvement in a blockbuster deal... DA has pulled it off before, im not aiming at anything in particular and nor am i necessarily wanting to trade ray, but if there is some way to get a deal that is an upgrade now and into the future, finding a team wanting to desperately rebuild or cut costs then you have to seriously consider it.. especially if this team isnt doing as well as it has in its first 2 seasons together

leave your options open, thats all im sayin... if you keep him around just wait, dont extend him and tie up all other avenues straight away

[sully00]

Ray is too inconsistent (see today's Milwaukee game and numerous others like it this and last year for proof) to merit big money for his next contract. Offer him MLE type money and let him walk (or trade him) if he doesn't like it.

Your kidding right? 21.5ppg since KG went down 3 ppg above his avg and he has failed to crack double figures only 6 times in 67 games as a 3rd offensive option. Let him walk? Trade him?

Were would this team be without Ray Allen right now? Reggie Miller was never as good as Ray is right now never mind the last decade, they are only comparable in the fact that they are great shooters and who were able to stay in great shape until late in their careers.

There really hasn't been anyone like Ray Allen, at 33 years of age still capable being a dominant player at the SG position. The only guys I have come up with that are similiar are Drexler, Alex English, and Dantley and the last two were really SF's. Frequently the decline is precipitous but Ray is so efficient physically it is hard to see it going that way.

Obviously Boston is not going to want to pay Ray 18-20 mil a year and they are going to want to keep the commitment as short as possible but there are huge risks in letting him just go to FA. All kinds of teams are clearing out cap space for that '10 off season but at the same time the cap is shrinking, the idea of adding two max guys is not likely. Beyond that the biggest names James, Wade, Kobe aren't likely to move anywhere. So teams are going to be falling all over themselves trying to get a 2nd tier star to convince a big name to take their money or teams looking to jump on guys just below that max level. While it sounds great to be able to keep your options open, Boston doesn't really have any in FA, at the same time you let Ray Allen go to FA in your are caught in a bidding war, with teams who are seeing a guy who would cost them a much shorter commitment and hurt the competition at the same time.

Yes everyone wants to come to Boston now as long as the money is the same. But in a league that Bobby Simmons is making 11 mil a year and Peja gets a 5 years and 62 mil at 29 and injury riddled you better have a damn good read on what the competition will be like if you let him got to FA. Everyone is looking at what Ray's huge contract might be worth in trade which is fine but you need a lot of things to happen to make that work. To the rest of the league he will be a FA that is still one of the best at his position with a championship pedigree and looking for 2/3rds the money and half the years. It is easy to fall in love with the idea that the economy is going to impact signings but this is money that has to be spent.

There is risk in everything but I think if you can work out a 3 year extension with the last an option or partial guarantee in the 10-11 mil neighborhood, which is what Rip Hamilton got, it might be wise to sign him up and not end up having to pay him 2 -3 mil more or a year or two longer.

[GuyClinch]

The thing with Ray is that he's probably going to be the most effective player late in his career relative to Pierce and KG. I could easily see Ray being highly effective at 37 years old. Pierce and KG will most likely be much lesser players by age 35. Now that doesn't mean that the team will keep Ray, but I definitely think he has a lot of value to teams. I mean how man 50%, 40%, 90% guys are there out there? I for one hope that the Celtics can get Ray on a cheap extension... I value the floor spacing and shot making that Ray brings to the team.

I think KG will be VERY effective - even he decided to play to 40. He has the Robert Parish/Jabaar body type and with his size there is no reason he can't play for a long time. As for Pierce - strength can extend your NBA career as well. Some guys have the genetics/commitment to play for a long time - and some guys don't.

Raef Lafrenz is a guy who was old at 28. Reggie Miller was old at 38. I don't think style (outside shooting) or speed (Jordan) has much to do with it. A guy like Joey Galloway (Patriots) can still burn people at 37. He just has the genes.