Let Allen go for sure. Hope Sheed retires and try to add a young, backup big man who actually cares. Replace Allen with anyone who doesn't go 2/12 every other game.
The last thing the Celtics want to do is get older. If I were them I would take a shot at signing Brenden Haywood (doubt it), Mike Miller or even Darko. Or I would draft the best big men available for the 19th pick in the draft. Honestly they could have at least one more season of success.
Celtics Have Plenty Of Questions For Next Season Friday, June 18, 2010 Posted By Sean Deveney 1:17 PM LOS ANGELES—In one locker room, the champagne was flowing. In the other, it was tears flowing. In the wake of their frustrating Game 7 loss, in which they held a 13-point second-half lead, the Celtics had little else to do but cry over spilled chances. Asked what the mood in the locker room was, Ray Allen said, “Tears. A lot of tears.” For the Celtics, next year can’t get here fast enough—getting back on the floor is the only way to exorcise the Game 7 disappointment. But before that, the team has questions to answer. Who will coach? Celtics players have openly pleaded with coach Doc Rivers to return for another season, and Rivers said he will take some time to mull the decision. But indications are that Rivers is leaning toward walking away—he has a son who is a senior basketball player at Indiana, a daughter who is a volleyball player at Florida and another son who is one of the country’s top high school players. Speculation has Kevin McHale, a good friend of team president Danny Ainge, as a possible Rivers replacement, but Celtics players don’t want to even think about that yet. “Doc’s everything, man, everything,” Kevin Garnett said. “Everyone wants him back. That’s not even an issue. It’s just a matter of whether Doc wants to come back.” Will they spend? As it stands, the Celtics have a payroll of about $63 million, which figures to be about $10 million over the salary cap. That’s a big problem, because that payroll covers just six players—Paul Pierce, Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis. The front office has a big decision to make, then. The Celtics made a run to The Finals this year, but whether they can make another such run is open for question. Boston needs to sign another eight players or so, and has the 19th pick in the draft. If their current salary structure holds and they sign eight players at a very, very cheap average of $2 million, they will be well into luxury tax territory. There simply isn’t much money available, though, and with the so-called championship window closing, the spending might not be worth it. What will happen to the bench? After watching Wallace struggle through the season, then hobble through the playoffs with a back injury, Rivers said he thought there was a good chance Wallace would retire. If that happens, the Celtics’ depth issues will worsen and ownership’s decision on how to approach the payroll and luxury tax will become more acute. Bringing back guys like Tony Allen and Nate Robinson will cost them, and if the Celtics want to bring in a quality sixth man, they would have to shell out money that they really don’t have. Who will be the shooting guard? The Celtics were an old team for much of the season, and entering next season, they’ll be a year older. Garnett turned 34 in May, Allen will be 35 and Pierce will be 33. Pierce can opt out of his contract and get an extension this summer, which would help the team because it would reduce his immediate salary number ($21 million) and would give Pierce some long-term security. Garnett is signed for two more years, so his return is certain. But Ray Allen is a different story. The Celtics clearly need to get younger, and because Allen is a free agent who seemed to wear out by the time The Finals came around, the logical thing to do would be to let Allen walk in free agency and find another shooting guard. They don’t have the cap space to pursue one of the top off guards on the market, but they could bring Allen back on a cheap contract and sign a cheap young shooter (such as Golden State’s Anthony Morrow) or a higher-risk player (Josh Howard, perhaps), with the goal of phasing Allen out. Posted In: 2010 NBA Finals, Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Ray Allen Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Th...ty_of_questions_for_next_season#ixzz0rH3oyqaU
I like that article's idea of phasing Allen out. With their salary situation, they will find it difficult to replace Jesus. The best bet si to resign him on the cheap and sign a cheap backup. Morrow sounds perfect for them, and he has the potential to develop into a starter. Could they possibly pry away one of Portland's young guards or swingmen who are rotting on the bench?
I still like their chances of at least going back to the ECF since the East is wide open right now. Provided they are still healthy and find another scorer to take over Ray Allen's role. They've done all they could defensively and almost still won, but they're lacking in depth and Ray Allen is a liability now.
Makeover may not look like much By Gary Washburn Globe Staff / June 19, 2010 E-mail this article To: Invalid E-mail address Add a personal message80 character limit) Your E-mail: Invalid E-mail address Sending your articleYour article has been sent. E-mail| Print| Reprints| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size – + LOS ANGELES — After the Celtics’ crushing 83-79 Game 7 loss to the Lakers Thursday night, a surprisingly upbeat Danny Ainge walked through the tunnel outside the Celtics’ locker room and saw an approaching Kobe Bryant about to conduct his postgame interview with ESPN. Ainge walked up to Bryant and gave the series MVP a congratulatory hug, but there was an interesting look on Ainge’s face. The Celtics president realized his team pushed the Lakers to the brink with a banged-up roster and without its starting center in Game 7. He saw the relief on Bryant’s face after the Lakers responded from a 13-point deficit to win their second consecutive title, and he saw how much energy Los Angeles had to exert to do it. So why in the world would he break this team up? The Celtics finished the 2009-10 season the league runner-up despite a plethora of injuries, an inconsistent bench, and a franchise player less than a year removed from knee surgery. There is no question the Celtics need retooling. Some of the moves Ainge executed with the express purpose of relieving the aging starters failed miserably, but he will have to make some crafty decisions to restock the team for another title run. Boston has seven unrestricted free agents, the most significant being Ray Allen, who just completed the five-year, $85 million deal he signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2005. He will be on the open market July 1. Allen repeatedly has stated that he wants to return to Boston and would do so at a reduced price. The Celtics own Allen’s “Bird Rights,’’ meaning they can pay him without counting against the salary cap. Coach Doc Rivers wants the team to re-sign the sharpshooter. But Allen wasn’t so sharp after his brilliant Game 2 performance in the Finals. He was 19 for 62 from the field (31 percent) and 4 for 28 from 3-point range in Games 3 through 7, which could affect his marketability. When the Celtics desperately needed perimeter shooting against an aggressive Lakers defense Thursday, Allen couldn’t produce, and perhaps playing the most minutes he had in five years was a symptom. “I’ll deal with that when the time comes,’’ Allen said when asked about his pending free agency. “But it’s obvious I don’t want to be nowhere else.’’ Asked whether the Celtics could push for another title, he said, “I believe Kevin [Garnett] will be healthier next year. We go a lot around what he does and Paul [Pierce] is going to be better and just more experienced. As guys get older the efficiency goes up. I don’t see why [we can’t be back].’’ Reinforcements are needed to make that happen. Ainge brought in Marquis Daniels to be a backup swingman and reliable defender, and he played himself out of the rotation. The Celtics never had a capable offensive backup for Pierce or Allen, and it’s likely Daniels won’t be back. Tony Allen is also a free agent and his defense on Bryant and performance throughout the playoffs boosted his stock. Allen is one of the few pure athletes on the roster and he has said he wants to return. The Celtics own his Bird Rights, as well. Allen began the season coming off ankle surgery and his inconsistency put him deep on the bench until the final few weeks of the regular season. But he played well enough to earn an extended stay in Boston. Allen will get offers from teams seeking a high-energy defender and high riser, but Ainge can lock him up early in the process. The late emergence of Nate Robinson gives the Celtics another quandary. Upon his acquisition from the Knicks, Robinson turned many teammates and team officials off with his immaturity. But he eventually learned the system and gave the Celtics a productive backup to Rajon Rondo. He helped win two playoff games with his offensive spark. Robinson relinquished his Bird Rights to facilitate his trade out of New York, and he is only 26, so with a full training camp he could be an asset. Rivers said he wanted to use Brian Scalabrine on defense against Lamar Odom in Game 7 to “get under his skin,’’ and he did. But at $3.1 million, Scalabrine, 32, has played his final game as a Celtic. He leaves with a handful of memorable moments and a strong fan base, but a player who wasn’t athletic in his prime has now lost all of his physical skills, and the Celtics will move on. As for Shelden Williams and Michael Finley, Ainge learned why they were available in the first place. Williams, the fifth overall pick in 2006, impressed Rivers with his work ethic but his skills may not be good enough to return. Finley can still shoot, but at 37 he can’t stop anybody on defense. If Pierce does not exercise his early termination option and returns at $21 million next season, the Celtics will remain over the salary cap, meaning Ainge will have to use creative financing to replenish the roster. He still has a mid-level exception and both Allens’ Bird Rights. The free agency pool will be full of capable players. There was a reason Ainge had a wry smile on his face Thursday night, because he realizes the run is not over. Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. http://www.boston.com/sports/basket...19/makeover_may_not_look_like_much/?page=full
I think Allen having to guard Kobe as much as he did just straight wore him out and screwed up his shooting. Do I think he'll be as consistent a shooter as he used to be? No. But it does seem his awful shooting performances had other reasons aside from simply "he's getting old."
They were discussing Ray Allen on sports radio in LA. The broadcasters reflected that during the beginning of game three, Ray was setting a pick for Paul Pierce and while chasing Pierce, Ron Artest bulldoze through Ray's pick. Artest collided Allen and as a result Allen got kneed in his thigh. Well during game seven, Ray Allen fell to the floor and one of the sport broadcasters noticed through a slip of Allen protective body gear that he wears under his uniform, that his thigh was taped up. As a former athlete; the DJ commented that when you tape a body part, you are doing it in order to get additional compression and support to get that body part to function. Since shooters rely so much on their legs, the broadcaster believes that since Ray legs were strapped up that thus his shot was never the same. Conspiracy nuts can claim that Ron Artest having played with Reggie Miller in Indiana for several years knew this, and thus Ron intentionally kneed Ray in the thigh.
I thought Allan was a goner for sure but maybe he stays for a lot less money, hadn't thought of that. He played great D during the series and age usually has nothing to do with your jumper going in (probably just went on a cold streak) so maybe the Celts keep him and keep the big 3 intact.
I agree here, but I would keep both Pierce and KG. No reason blowing up a team that blew pass the Cavs and Magics. That's just nuts. I think KG is still nursing his knee and will be 100% next year. Did you guys forget already that Perkin was out in game 7 that could've put a positive spin on the outcome? Trade Allen for someone who's more athletic and can create for themselves(Corey maggette type of player). There's no reason why this team can't make another run at the title. Health is the most important thing right now for them. Also Doc needs to distribute their minutes better. He was wearing them out in the Laker series.
Keep Rondo, Big Baby, Garnett, Pierce, Perkins. Resign Ray Allen and Tony Allen. Sign a good scorer or a Center with size with the MLE. Let Nate, Rasheed Wallace, and Finley go. Hope to get Lucky in the Draft. I still don't think they can Contend for a championship next year. But in the Leastern Conference they will make the PlayOffs next year. If Doc Rivers is not coming back they will need a very good Coach to replace him. If Doc comes back they will still need someone to replace Tom Thibodeaux. Jeff Van Gundy would be a great replacement for Doc because they are a great defensive team but he will need a very good offensive minded Asst Coach with him to be successful.
