NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics Must Make Ray Allen Deal 1st Step in Dismantling Big 3

Danny Ainge has seemingly waved the white flag on the Big Three. Dealing Ray Allen should be the first move he makes to transition into a new era. Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated reports:

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Yet for all the talk of Boston point guard Rajon Rondo possibly being traded, some league executives have shooting guard and free-agent-to-be Ray Allen pegged as the most likely to be moved.

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The Celtics would be crazy to move Rondo. Allen still has some run in his 36-year-old legs, but not enough to help the Celtics who have to transition from being a veteran team to being a young team.

Allen is averaging 15 points per game and shooting 48 percent from three-point range. There isn't a contender in the NBA that couldn't find a spot for that production.

The Celtics would like a young player and a draft pick, but as the deadline approaches, they may have to give a little to make the move. Either they take a young player that hasn't quite established himself yet, or they take a late first round pick from a contender.

At this point, only contending teams will have interest in Allen, so the C's aren't going to get a lottery pick out of this. At 36, in the last year of his contract, Allen isn't worth a pick that high,

The reality of the Celtics situation is that Allen and Kevin Garnett are both free agents at the end of the season. Teams will realize they may be renting these players for 20 games. Plus, both players are over 35 years of age.

No team is going to want to commit a ton of their future in players or picks to land them in that situation. The Celtics have to effectively take what they can get, as its obvious, neither is a part of the team's future plans.

If the Celtics are smart, the Allen trade will be a part of a furious week of deals that move all of the Big Three. Garnett should be next on the list, and Paul Pierce should follow. Pierce still has years remaining on his contract, so it may be tougher, but he is still a solid scorer, that some teams may covet.

Pierce was an All-Star, and he's averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists per game this year. Not to mention his ability to make tough shots. Teams like Philadelphia desperately need players like Pierce to finish games.

Garnett has the size, defensive prowess and leadership qualities a contender could use down the stretch. With solid low post defenders so rare and valued, Garnett is still one of the premier players in that category. It would seem he could be an asset to contenders as well. He's scoring 15 points, grabbing eight boards and blocking a shot per game.

So, it's not like the Celtics are dumping old, ineffective players. There is definitely value there.

Once the dealing is done, the Celtics should have a nice crop of young players, and a few draft picks, with a ton of cap room for this offseason.

All of these assets help the Celtics effectively build around Rondo. This is their best course of action now,

The Celtics need to get rid of their old success, to allow new success to grow. That begins with moving Allen.