The Tony Allen Experience has moved on to the Memphis Grizzlies and Ray Allen’s return to the Celtics has become official.
I will miss seeing TA bouncing around the Celtics locker room with his head phones on singing to the music before home games.
Apparently, Danny Ainge was willing to go for 2 years at $3 mil per, but former Celtic front office man Chris Wallace, now GM of the Grizzlies, was willing to give Tony three years at about $10 million total, as reported by a number of sources.
As much as 28 year old Tony Allen loved playing for the Celtics, and he did, someone with his injury history would be wise to get as much money locked up as possible, considering that TA had ‘only’ earned $9.77 million until now. His new contract just about doubles his earnings to date, not that $9.7 million is something to sneeze at.
Injury Laced Career
Tony’s most dramatic and career changing injury was the one that occurred as he appeared to be breaking out as a top scorer for the Celtics. It was the now infamous ‘after-the-whistle dunk’ on January 10th, 2007 (one day before his 25th birthday) against the Pacers.
It resulted in a torn ACL and it took Tony a longer time to recover mentally than physically from that injury. But that was just the biggest in a longer line of injuries that constantly interrupted Allen’s momentum going forward in his career.
Tony Allen has only played in more than 54 games in a season twice in his 6 years in the NBA. As successful as last season was, he only managed to log 54 regular season games, as he was still slowed early in the season in his recovery from the ankle surgery.
His ankles slowly regained their strength and Tony’s health, game, and rhythm grew as the season wore on. He became so effective and so settled into his role as defender and tempo changer off the bench, that, in somewhat of a surprise move, Doc Rivers supplanted Marquis Daniels and his minutes for Tony as the playoffs drew near.
Tony ended up doing a very effective job against both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, arguably the league’s top two scorers, in the playoffs in short minutes.
Though Danny Ainge is quoted through Celtics twitter that ‘It wasn’t a financial decision. You’d have to ask Tony (why he didn’t return).’, it appears money was a prime reason for Tony Allen’s move, as it has been reported that his role won’t change much in Memphis.
They will use Tony in much the same as he was used this past season – defensive stopper off the bench. But the Grizzlies are an up and coming team with a base of young talent in OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and Marc Gasol. Zach Randolph contributed in a significant way and is in his final year of a big contract.
So we will see Tony operate in a new system this season, with a new coach for the first time in his NBA career. And I wish him well.
Ray Allen Returns…and is ‘ecstatic to be back in Boston’ (Celtics.com)
Some in Celtic Nation are less enthused about Ray’s return after an inconsistent offensive performance in the Finals. The feeling is that a search for a younger sharp shooter, such as JJ Redick (offer from the Bulls) or Anthony Morrow (sign and trade to the Nets) would be cheaper and just as good of an answer. But there are few players in the league who can offer everything to a team that Ray Allen can.
Lost in all the negativity regarding Ray’s 7th game shooting slump and inconsistent shooting series was his completely surprising and very effective defense on Kobe Bryant throughout the Finals.
Statistically, good things happen for the Celtics when Ray Allen is on the floor, even when bench players are playing with him.
There is no doubt that the Celtics could use another long distance sharp shooter and some younger legs this season. If the Cs can get someone else to guard the top offensive swing man on the other team, then Ray’s job gets easier and he can concentrate on what he does best – drilling those heat seeking missiles.
Players of the character of Ray Allen are hard to come by. Always in great shape and always a hard worker, by being primarily assigned to guard Kobe Bryant, Ray was pushed to his limit in the Finals. In spite of his Finals scoring letdown, there are still very few as clutch as Ray Allen is in the final seconds of a game.
Doc and Danny’s job is to make sure Ray is freed up from defensive stopper to do what he does best. So….
Danny – Get a wing defender… please.
With defensive players like Raja Bell (now reported to be signing with Utah) and Ronny Brewer (multiple teams with interest including the Celtics) still available, it would be of enormous value to land one of them. Matt Barnes and Damien Wilkins are other defensive options still out there as well. The Celtics are also interested Josh Howard.
Jermaine O’ Neal rejects Heat, officially signs with the Celtics
While there was some speculation that Jermaine might re-sign with the newly amped Heat (they need someone in the middle), O’Neal decided that Boston was the team he wanted to play with ‘in pursuit of a championship’. He said that he could have re-signed with the Heat. Jermaine said it about ‘fit’. He felt that the Celtics gave him ‘the best opportunity to win next year’ as quoted in his recent signing interview carried by multiple sites.
O’Neal played injured in the playoffs last season
From Julian Benbow’s article in the Boston Globe…
I got kicked. It was the New York game maybe two weeks before the season was over. My ankle was extremely swollen – the left one – and to me when you suit up and you go out there. You’re telling your team and your followers that you’re ready to play. Whatever excuses you have should be kept in the locker room, so I chose not to talk about it because it didn’t really matter. I still felt like I could go out there and help the team, and unfortunately, I couldn’t do it. That’s just one of those things.
That explains his 20% shooting performance against the Celtics in the first round. Knowing that, getting O’Neal at the Mid Level Exception ($5.76 mil) might be a bargain. He is still an energetic defender, solid shot blocker, and fierce competitor.
Danny Ainge said that a physical still shows the sprain, but O’Neal will be ready for the season.
Danny also mentioned that the Celtics are only ‘at half time’ in this off season. So that means he is still trying to get something important done to fill the holes in the roster.
The Celtics are negotiating with Nate Robinson and hopefully that missing wing defender is a priority.
Stay tuned.
