Report: Boston Celtics Prepared to Offer Ray Allen a Two-Year $12 M Deal

After another year of speculation that the Big Three era was coming to a close, the core may be brought back together for another go around.

There are reports that Danny Ainge is prepared to make Ray Allen a deal that will deliver the three-point king a fully guaranteed two-season deal that amounts to a total $12 Million.

With Kevin Garnett already agreeing to a contract extension and Paul Pierce under contract for two more years, the Celtics may see their three future Hall of Famers around long enough to branch the gap from the past to the future. 

Although Allen is turning 37 this month and is returning from surgery on his ankle, he is still one of the best conditioned athletes in the game. He stays true to a very strict workout regimen and diet that keeps his body in top shape for the season, allowing him to keep up and often surpass the skills of his younger opponents.

Allen likely could not wrestle the starting shooting guard spot away from the emerging Avery Bradley, but he would be given the opportunity to play a large number of minutes as the sixth man of the team. 

Although his production declined slightly this year due mostly to limited minutes and injury, he still put forth a strong season, producing 14.2 points per game on 45.8% shooting along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Even off the bench, he would be one of the most trusted players in the league to have the ball in his hands at the end of games, especially with his high production at the free-throw line converting on 91.5% of his shots. 

Allen would have to accept the idea of no longer starting in the NBA, but I believe that it will actually help to prolong his career. He can clearly still produce on the offensive end at an extremely efficient level, but he is starting to have a harder time defending the more athletic and younger athletes in opposing starting lineups.

In moving Allen to a sixth man role, it allows him to use his skills against less efficient players leading to a better offensive output, more time with the ball in his hands, and opponents that are easier to defend. 

Finally, Allen would be extremely important in the playoffs next year, as he can produce the three-point shooting the Celtics will need for a deep run when healthy.

Last year, Ray Allen shot the ball from beyond the arc at a rate of 45.3% with just over two three-point shots made per game. The Boston Celtics were missing that great production from a healthy Allen last year, as they put together one of the poorest 3-point shooting post seasons in recent memory. 

At $6 million a year, Allen may be the best valued contract that the Celtics could bring in for scoring off the bench.

He will not only bring the type of performance the C's need on the court, but he will continue to be a mentor for the younger players on the team. I would not be surprised to see Allen back in Boston for the upcoming season.