Ray joins the Heat/Ray Allen appreciation thread

[Celts17Pride]

Ray Allen is better than a lot of the players who's numbers have been retired and he was the 3rd best player on a championship team, which a lot of those players can't say.

The other players didn't say FU Celtics and then go and sign with their rivals.

[humblebum]

I do find it comical that people are truly into this whole policing other people's thoughts regarding Ray. He doesn't owe the Celtics anything, clearly. And the Celtics don't owe him anything in return. Choruses of Boos are in order for the Miami Heat in Beantown. Ray is on the Miami Heat. Thus, no, you do not pass go...

Congrats on the move Ray and good riddance. The only consolation in this is that now we have a chance to actually beat Ray AND Lebron. And the Celtics like to play with an edge. We're coming for you Miami and we're pissed off!

I like the swagger that Ainge is building in this locker room. Lots of Alpha Dogs and competitors. I think Ainge needs to fill out the roster with physically imposing players. Let's pound these Heat punks into submission!

[RajonRondo9dime]

Ray Allen is dead to Celtics Nation.

You're damn right.

[Celts17Pride]

Honestly, I'll be pissed if someone, anyone isn't wearing #20 this year on the Celtics. Celtics shouldn't be saving that number for anything.

[Celticfan_N_FL]

Now we're retiring Ray's number? I didn't think that was ever on the table to be honest. I'm still on the fence about Garnett. And if #5 isn't retired then no way in hell is #20 retired.

What? KG's number was a guarantee to be retired the minute we won in 2008.

Ray Allen is better than a lot of the players who's numbers have been retired and he was the 3rd best player on a championship team, which a lot of those players can't say.

Ether way the discussion is premature at best.

[Celticfan_N_FL]

The real bottom line is Ainge toyed around with idiotic trade ideas (Allen for Mayo, a la Bird for Chuck Person or McHale for Sam Perkins) and Ray was rightfully insulted. And now we're stuck with the exact mediocrity Ainge wanted to avoid.

Agreed.

I am disappointed in Ray. But he walked away from a bigger offer. So we can only assume

[list=]
1) Ainge burned his bridges with all his constant trade attempts.
2) Perhaps the relationship with Rondo had really deteriorated.
3) Ray doesn't like Boston's chances at getting another title, at least compared to Miami's
4) His ego needed stroking, after being deposited on the bench and very nearly traded.
[/list]

We complain about Ray's loyalty and that was a big FU going to Miami, but Ainge showed little loyalty in the other direction. Yeah it's a business and Ainge should be looking always to improve the team. Really the only untouchable was KG, and that probably was only because of his contract. But the way Ainge went about his business each year rankled Ray and probably Rondo and Pierce.

We don't know, and probably will never know, who initiated the calls. I will say this. #1 Ray was ultimately never traded. And #2 at this stage of his career Ainge was more than willing to give Ray a no trade clause to guarantee his stability for the rest of his career. In the end Ray was the one not being "loyal".

[RekeHavoc]

Ray Allen is dead to Celtics Nation. No jersy in the rafters. No ovation when he comes back to Boston. No invitation to come back for championship reunions.

KG and PP carried this choker on their back when he stunk up the joint throughout the 2008 playoffs. And this is how this classless punk repays them?

Have fun sniffing LeBron's jock in Miami the next couple years, Ray. I can't wait to watch them trade your corpse and expiring contract to Sacramento in a couple years.

And DON'T, I repeat DON'T, even think about mentioning the Celtics when you're inducted into the HOF. You are a Buck, Sonic and Heat...you should be so proud.

No thanks we don't want him

[chakdaddy]

The real bottom line is Ainge toyed around with idiotic trade ideas (Allen for Mayo, a la Bird for Chuck Person or McHale for Sam Perkins) and Ray was rightfully insulted. And now we're stuck with the exact mediocrity Ainge wanted to avoid.

Agreed.

I am disappointed in Ray. But he walked away from a bigger offer. So we can only assume

[list=]
1) Ainge burned his bridges with all his constant trade attempts.
2) Perhaps the relationship with Rondo had really deteriorated.
3) Ray doesn't like Boston's chances at getting another title, at least compared to Miami's
4) His ego needed stroking, after being deposited on the bench and very nearly traded.
[/list]

We complain about Ray's loyalty and that was a big FU going to Miami, but Ainge showed little loyalty in the other direction. Yeah it's a business and Ainge should be looking always to improve the team. Really the only untouchable was KG, and that probably was only because of his contract. But the way Ainge went about his business each year rankled Ray and probably Rondo and Pierce.

Yup. It all goes both ways. Plenty of the blame goes to Ainge. I'm upset but I'll get over it, he helped us get a ring and I'll appreciate him for that...but I'm angry now, and it's sad he won't go down as a Celtic lifer like KG eventually will.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Now we're retiring Ray's number? I didn't think that was ever on the table to be honest. I'm still on the fence about Garnett. And if #5 isn't retired then no way in hell is #20 retired.

What? KG's number was a guarantee to be retired the minute we won in 2008.

Ray Allen is better than a lot of the players who's numbers have been retired and he was the 3rd best player on a championship team, which a lot of those players can't say.

Ether way the discussion is premature at best.

At some point the celtics needs to stop retiring numbers. The only one set in stone right now is PP. Allen number should not be retired here and it is up for debate if KGs should be retired here either.

[Slax]

Let's wait six or seven years and get a little perspective before discussing whether or not his number will be raised. Choosing to leave the Celtics for a conference rival for less money clearly hurts his chances, but this is something that will be decided after his career and with some perspective and distance. We don't really have any precedent of this happening so we don't know how it's going to affect Ray's chances.

[theman]

He exercised his right as a free agent. End of story.

I mostly sympathize with your position. I don't really see any need to be mad at Ray, and as far as I'm concerned, it's just business. But keep in mind that while Ray had, yes, a right to leave, a right which he exercised, it was his choice to exercise that right. You can't fault a fan of a team for deciding to stop cheering for a player after he chooses to leave the team.

It is just business if he signs for more money. This is nothing more than pathetic ring chasing, something I do not respect.

In fact, every time Ray touches the ball, fans should not boo, they should chant "Ring Chaser".

[sully00]

1. Yes I do.
2. The fact that Doc and Danny have too much class to allow someone to disrespect Ray.

Ray Allen's number will never be retired in Boston.

We'll see about that. I can guarantee Doc and Danny aren't whining and throwing a fit about Ray going to Miami like everyone here is and they more than likely still appreciate what Ray did to help this team win a title.

That is so missing the point. They tried to trade Ray on multiple occasions sure if he wants to get back at them great move he did it but he also lit his life and legacy in Boston on fire. Like I said Ainge and Doc set him up to be the bad guy and either he didn't get it or doesn't care but if that is the case than either can we.

[Ben-N1ce]

I appreciate Ray as a Celtic but now he's an enemy. Period. I can't lie to you. If he went to the West I wouldn't care. He went to literally the team in our way. I will never root for success for him again. I guess that's the fan in me. Oh well.

[sully00]

Let's wait six or seven years and get a little perspective before discussing whether or not his number will be raised. Choosing to leave the Celtics for a conference rival for less money clearly hurts his chances, but this is something that will be decided after his career and with some perspective and distance. We don't really have any precedent of this happening so we don't know how it's going to affect Ray's chances.

Name one # in that rafter that left as FA like this. Actually don't bother you can't.

[702Celtics]

I am saying that. Why is it that he asks the celtics for 27 million yet signs with the heat for 9? Allen had no desire to come back here. He purposely made his asking price so high because he knew the celtics could not afford to pay him.

1. Boston could offer the most money, Allen knew that, so he tried to see if Ainge would bite the bullet and sign him to an awful contract. Knowing Miami was willing to go 3 years is what the tipping point was, IMO, for Allen.
2. Boston did not want to offer Ray a 3 year deal, it seemed they were set on only 2 years. So, I'd have to guess in Rays mind, having a 3 year window at winning another ring is better than the 2 year window Boston was offering. Who know's if he'll be able to play by the 3rd, hell, even the 2nd year of that contract, either. It's all water under the bridge now, Good Riddance Ray.

[StojkoVrankovic]

Let's wait six or seven years and get a little perspective before discussing whether or not his number will be raised. Choosing to leave the Celtics for a conference rival for less money clearly hurts his chances, but this is something that will be decided after his career and with some perspective and distance. We don't really have any precedent of this happening so we don't know how it's going to affect Ray's chances.

Name one # in that rafter that left as FA like this. Actually don't bother you can't.

Abdelnaby?

[ConnorHenry]

Here is more info, tying back to my previous post:

The deterioration of Ray Allen's relationship with Rajon Rondo played a significant factor in his leaving for Miami, several sources tell Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2012

As Y! had reported, Allen was angry w/ near-trade to Memphis at deadline. Too much acrimony to get past. Off to Miami for less money.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2012

Allen, tired of being offered as trade bait by Danny Ainge in each of the last two years, was also being offered trade security by the Celtics, either in the form of a trade kicker or a no trade clause.
Allen Chooses Heat - BostonHerald.com - Celtics Insider Blog

"‘The one thing that bothers me the most is guys taking big pay cuts for a year to go down there and try to win a championship,’ Bird told ESPN. ‘There’s a lot of guys who like to ride the coattails of the best and they’ll take a pay cut just to have an opportunity to win that ring.’"
…Larry Bird

[theman]

Ray's number will not be retired. He was with the team only five years. Bill Walton's number isn't retired why should Ray's be? Ainge's number isn't retired.

I haven't checked all the numbers but only Ed Macauley was with the team for five or fewer season and had his number retired and that was a different era. He was one of the first Celtics and his being traded my be more of the reason his number was retired.

[702Celtics]

And people seem to keep forgetting all he has to do is line up at the 3 point line and hit shots. The don't need him running around all game scoring. Miller looked like he was 87 years old in the playoffs yet he was hurting the thunder. People are delusional if they don't think this makes the team better.

With Allen leaving celtics have no shooting guards and cannot sign anybody else becasue of the way the CBA is set up. Not sure what planet Allen lives in that he does not think he will be booed when he comes here.

Opposing teams obviously didn't respect Miller or Battier, and they got burned for it. Teams are going to make sure Ray doesn't just stand at the 3pt line and drill threes. You'd have to be delusional to think that any team would let that happen.

[RajonRondo9dime]

And people seem to keep forgetting all he has to do is line up at the 3 point line and hit shots. The don't need him running around all game scoring. Miller looked like he was 87 years old in the playoffs yet he was hurting the thunder. People are delusional if they don't think this makes the team better.

With Allen leaving celtics have no shooting guards and cannot sign anybody else becasue of the way the CBA is set up. Not sure what planet Allen lives in that he does not think he will be booed when he comes here.

Opposing teams obviously didn't respect Miller or Battier, and they got burned for it. Teams are going to make sure Ray doesn't just stand at the 3pt line and drill threes. You'd have to be delusional to think that any team would let that happen.

lol exactly.

People aren't gonna leave Ray Allen just to help out on a LBJ drive.