Gahden Sports - Celtics Trade Rumors

Woke up this morning to rumors that the Celtics were looking to shop Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to the Pistons for Rip Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince.

Fortunately, Joe Dumars quickly shot this deal down.

I understand that Ray Allen is not getting any younger and is scheduled to make $18 million next year, but the guy is on a level of clutch only equalled by Reggie Miller and Larry Bird, yeah I said it. WTF are you thinking Danny Ainge?! Obviously, following next season the Celtics will need to evaluate whether or not to keep Allen, who is right now my personal favorite player in the league although he will be..ahem 34...at the beginning of next season. Seriously though, did Ainge watch the first round series with the Bulls? Allen absolutely CARRIED the team. How many times was Allen asked to hit a big shot with the game on the line? 10-15? 20? I cannot remember him not delivering. Allen is a high quality, high character guy who plays the game the right way, despite Doc Rivers's incessant tinkering with his minutes and flow in games. Not to mention is amount of entertainment and excitement value Allen adds during the regular season. (Allen...for three...GAAHHHHT IT!!!)

My advice to Danny Ainge. Tell Doc to give Ray his due, tell Paul to give him the ball when he's open. Let Ray police himself, he knows how. Watch his numbers, I guarantee they'll be at or about All-Star level. The Celtics will be a more dynamic, efficient team and, if everyone stays healthy, will contend for another title. Trading Ray Allen for a player like Rip Hamilton would be trading an immediatly loved Boston player, who fits perfectly into the offense, for a hated rival that fulfills the same functions as Paul Pierce. Brilliant. You traded a young player and agreed to pay Ray in the first place just two years ago, see it through to the end, give Ray his due and negotiate next year based on this year's performance. SHOULDN'T THIS BE OBVIOUS??

With regard to Rondo, who has been noticeably absent from this post. You hafta say one thing about him, the guy has balls. For a second year point guard, you could not ask any more from him. During the first round series with the Bulls, he went right after Derrick Rose, the NBA's Rookie of the Year scoring back and forth with the more athletic rookie and refusing to back down. I can't remember how many triple doubles he had this year. A solid talent, the guy puts it all on the line and has a very special way of making plays that, I believe, makes him unique as a point guard in the NBA. On a lesser team, I feel that next season would be Rondo's statistical coming out party.

Unforuntately, Rondo will need to display the wisdom and maturity that embodies the phrase "Less is more" for the Celtics to reach their full potential. As every Celtic knows, Rondo has a tendency to get carried away. To his credit, the guy is a playmaker and plays at a high speed. While this is a useful and needed asset for the Celtics, Rondo needs to be careful not to let this detract from the abilities of the core of the team, which is still the Big Three. To put it more bluntly, the last shot of the game goes to Ray or Pierce, and KG is the heart of the team, not Rondo. Still, I do not see the value in trading a young player like this, I just do not see how it would make the team any better.

In short, thank you Joe Dumars. Danny Ainge stumbled upon a miracle, please don't fuck this up.