Sugar Ray doesn't want to leave...

[BRUNiNHO91]

Celtics guard Ray Allen is in the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract and has begun pondering his future.

Allen's first choice would be to re-sign with Boston, but he understands that the feeling may not be mutual.

"I would love to be here," Allen said. "In my mind right now, for me there's no other place to be. It's a great tradition. This is really NBA basketball to me, being a part of a team and the tradition of winning, a great fan base. But the situations have to be addressed. There is a business connected to it. The team is going to do what they think is necessary. We'll have to make a decision based on how they come to me business-wise."

Allen, who will likely have to accept a hefty pay cut as a free agent on the downside of his career, is open to signing a contract extension with Boston.

"I am a loyalty person. If the opportunity presented itself to get a deal at the current moment as we speak, I would be all over it," said Allen.

"So moving forward, I don't have to worry about how the summer is going to go and long term we at least between myself, Kevin [Garnett] and Paul [Pierce], we know we are going to be here, Rasheed [Wallace] and [Rajon] Rondo. You know what the core is going to be."

How do you trade a loyalty guy like Ray, a class act guy, after he says all those things??Yeah i know this is a business, you have to put the franchise first..but damn..dude actually REALLY wants to be here..this will be the hardest decision Danny will ever make..if he leaves, I'll be heartbroken..I just hope we don't trade him for crap this year...

[Lewis35]

If Ray wants to be here he needs to start putting the ball in the hoop.

[BakersDozen]

I'd love to know what he thinks he is worth at this moment. He is playing right now like a mle player.

[sully00]

I'd love to know what he thinks he is worth at this moment. He is playing right now like a mle player.

This I don't get, do you mean in the last few games or for the season?

Ray isn't playing great ball sure but we are talking about fractional differences between now and his first two years in Boston. He has been a 17/3/3 guy in Boston and he is putting up 16/3/3, he is percentage is down a little bit but it is a little bit. Why is Ray the target?

I understand his contract is up but lets get serious he isn't the guy in his mid thirties with health concerns and diminished production that has set this teams championships hope back.

Everyone can play better and nobody is immune to criticism that isn't my point, but why pretend like Ray Allen is what is wrong with this team?

[BakersDozen]

Ray is the target because he is on the last year of his deal. If the roles were reversed and it was KG on his last year I'd also expect he should/would have to take a big paycut. I like Ray,i really do and while he may have played in every game this season thus far he has the smallest impact on the floor of the big three.

[SichtingLives]

I like Ray,i really do and while he may have played in every game this season thus far he has the smallest impact on the floor of the big three.

of the starting five.

[Lewis35]

Here is what it comes down to: If Allen did not come out of his slump in the 2008 play-offs the celtics do not win a title. This is not even debatable.

If Allen continues to play this poorly the Celtics win not will a title this year. Ainge can either trade Ray and try to built a little toward the future or he can hope Ray starts to play much better.

[BakersDozen]

Here is what it comes down to: If Allen did not come out of his slump in the 2008 play-offs the celtics do not win a title. This is not even debatable.

If Allen continues to play this poorly the Celtics win not will a title this year. Ainge can either trade Ray and try to built a little toward the future or he can hope Ray starts to play much better.

i 100% agree with you on Ray in the finals. I think it gets loss on alot of fans because of the game 1 Pierce injury,the comeback in game 4 and KGs monster game 6. Ray was a joy to watch.... didnt he break a finals record for most made 3's in game 6?

[JSABleedsGreen]

What do you guys think.....

Do you think Ray has slipped a bit? Is the reason perhaps mileage on those 34 year old legs?

or

Does anyone think that perhaps the issues with his son are affecting him more mentally than anything else?

I think it's more of the later, he still gets open and is moving well without the ball. Ray's weakness is when he's trying to create for himself in set offense. I think the issues with his son are affecting him. I know it definitey would affect me. Yes perhaps his legs are a little shot, i mean after all he's 34 and has lots of mileaeg on them. Ray has missed a lot lately, in fact he's missed a lot while he's wide open. He's also missed more free throws lately than i've seen. That's not typical Ray to miss that many free throws lately. I mean he's still shooting 90% on the season which is awesome but he's missed lately, along with his shooting slump.

Could it be a mental thing? I think so mostly.....with a little combination of 34 year old legs.

[MJ6RINGS]

Let me start by saying I like Ray Allen and I agree he played a big part in the team winning the championships two season ago. That being said this is a business and Ray Allen only has a couple more years left to play at a good level in the league. Danny would not be doing his job if he doesn't try to see what he can get for Ray Allen contract. It's going to be hard for the Cs to had serious talent via free agency. So right now Ray Allen's contract is the biggest trade asset the team has. This team needs to add younger talented players who can actually play. I like the Monte Ellis rumor becasue Monte would give the Cs a young talented player who can score. He also would be here for a long time with Rondo and Perkins. Now is the team to trade Ray Allen. We got what we wanted out him and now it's time to move on. Nothing personal just business.

[SichtingLives]

Ray isn't playing great ball sure but we are talking about fractional differences between now and his first two years in Boston. He has been a 17/3/3 guy in Boston and he is putting up 16/3/3, he is percentage is down a little bit but it is a little bit. Why is Ray the target?

Because he's gone from our dead-eye shooter to a less dependable shooter who, might I add, does nothing else above average on the basketball court anymore. If you want to try and cover that up with season averages, fine. He's lost the speed to get open against quicker players (which at his age is pretty much everybody), he's a ghost on defense, not a particularly good passer, ballhandler or decision maker. That's not hate, that's what's going down night in and night out on the court.

I understand his contract is up but lets get serious he isn't the guy in his mid thirties with diminished production that has set this teams championships hope back.

Yes, his production has diminished considerably this year, hello??? Why do you think this keeps getting brought up every day?

Everyone can play better and nobody is immune to criticism that isn't my point, but why pretend like Ray Allen is what is wrong with this team?

Ray Allen IS one of the problems with this team. Of course he's not the only problem. If you want to talk about the other problems this team has, you're more than free to do so. But pretending nobody else has been watching how Ray's overall play has declined this year (and drastically of late) is not going to help you get your point across.

As much as I appreciate what everyone has done for this team, PARTICULARLY to win #17, I'm not going to advocate sitting on our hands while all of our veteran players turn to fossils. It doesn't matter if they're future HOF'ers or not. The only guy who even deserves consideration for a sweetheart offer at the end of his deal is Paul Pierce for what he has done for the Boston Celtics over the course of his entire career. And even at that, his options should be considered like everyone else.

I would love to have Ray Allen back for the RIGHT money in an extended, 6th man role on this team next year. A minute reduction and a more specific role that maximizes his shooting ability and minimizes everything else would be good for him and the team. He is no longer an elite starter. Once his shooting declines he is no longer a good starter. I still think he's going to turn it around this year but going into next season with him penciled in as our starting SG would not be a wise gamble for the present or the future.

[SichtingLives]

btw, these are the exact issues we knew we were going to have to deal with three years ago. Nobody said these would be easy decisions to make. We love these guys and they have been extraordinary players throughout their careers but it is crucial to know when the right time is to cut ties and move in another direction, you don't think with your heart in these situations.

If the right (perfect) deal came up I would trade Ray. If not I have no problem keeping him through the season and hoping he catches a touch of his youth again but next year is an entirely different story.

[klemen4]

He sure wont get more than 6-7 per year for 2 year (till 2012 when also KG and Wallace expire)...

I still would trade him if he can get us Iguodala, Martin or Ellis.

[Lewis35]

DunkOnFace I agree with what you said. Celtics had a three year window which all of us expected. The won the first year and truth be told this team looks to be on the decline. Allen is slowing down and KG's knees are starting to go as well. PP has been pretty healthy but I have to admit PP wearing those huge wraps on both his knees/legs bothers me a little. I don't want the celtics to hold on to their big three too long because we knew what happened in the 90's. (yes I know that Lewis died before anybody brings that up)

I know every "contender" has its flaws. This team is not playing at a championship level and has not played that way in a month. Every game is a struggle. At some point even the most die hards have to question if teams window is closing.

Put it this way: If the celtics win 2 of 3 of their games this weekend I will feel better about this team and will show be they have bouced back. If they go 1-2 or 0-3 it will just reinforce what I am starting to believe.

[Celts17Pride]

Everyone can play better and nobody is immune to criticism that isn't my point, but why pretend like Ray Allen is what is wrong with this team?

People do it because he is a easy target. You don't think people are going to criticize Pierce or KG do you? So by default it has to be Ray Allen. Celtics need bench help, they don't need to change their starting five.

[darrendaye]

DOF, I gotta say, your post sums up my thoughts on this topic to a tee. I concur with every single point you made.

[LongTimeFan]

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS.HTM

You look at the stats and Allen is not hurting the team. He more than holds his own for his position. Ray has played more minutes than anyone.

The guy that's hurting us is Wallace. He's not playing defense. I understand defense is work and Wallace is old. So come playoff time I hope he can turn it up.

Of course he wants to stay. The Celtics are the best pro franchise to play for, IMO. I think they'll try to sign him, but his contract could be a trading chip.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Everyone can play better and nobody is immune to criticism that isn't my point, but why pretend like Ray Allen is what is wrong with this team?

People do it because he is a easy target. You don't think people are going to criticize Pierce or KG do you? So by default it has to be Ray Allen. Celtics need bench help, they don't need to change their starting five.

I think that's what it is too. Ray Allen isn't as good as he was when he got here?Obviously...but is Pierce as good as he was in 2008?Is KG even half the player he was in 2008? No...everybody is declining...Paul's bread and butter used to be that little 15 ft fade away jumper, and he hasn't even been able to get those off right this year. KG can't get up there to rebound and block shots like he used too. and Ray isn't shooting like a sniper anymore. It happens...we all knew it would. I just hope he starts making some of those shots, so people can shut up about how he is done. If the right trade comes along, then you do it. But don't put our chances at a ring THIS YEAR in jeopardy, by trading Ray, just for the heck of it.

[sully00]

Dunkonface

If you want to say that Ray has lost a step and isn't shooting the ball as well that is real but the production argument is BS. His production is exactly the same. His track record is to shoot the 3 better in the second half of the season and if that occurs he will be essentially the same player he has been in Boston for the previous two years.

Now KG has gone from 19/9 to 15/7 over the passed 3 years missing huge chunks of time that is the production loss, his rebounding rate is at 14.6% don't talk to me how Ray Allen's production is down because he is 35% from 3 instead of 37%.

Your whistling passed the graveyard if you think Ray Allen is what is different about this team.

[sully00]

Rasheed Wallace has a defensive rating of 98 or the best on the team. Defense is hard to quantify but the problem isn't Wallace defensively, he could certainly be doing more on the defensive glass but the biggest problem is that he has been starting and not coming off the bench.

We don't need KG scoring 18-19 a game we have guys to pick up that scoring drop off but he has got dominate the glass and be the defensive monster he has been.

It isn't about Ray Allen being 34, Sheed shooting too many 3's, Doc's coaching, or Big Baby's 'tude. The Pinto has to turn back into the Lamborghini or this isn't a championship team plain and simple.