Hi My Name Is (Insert Name Here) and I Owe Ray Allen an Apology

For the past few weeks NBA trade rumor winds blew and rumors of the Celtics breaking up the Big 3 continued to be proposed.  Many Celtic fans, like myself, campaigned for Danny Ainge to send the sharp shooter to a team to receive a young shooting guard and possibly a big man.  Rumors of the C's receiving packages such as Butler-Jamison, Hinrich-Thomas-Salmons, Iguodala-Dalembert and Martin-bad contracts lit excitement in Celtic Nation, in hopes of bringing energy and talent to Boston in exchange for Allen's expiring contract.

However, the trade deadline came and past, and the only move the Celtics made was sending Eddie House, JR Giddens and Bill Walker to the Knicks for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry.  This move brings energy off the bench, but to a large number of Celtics fans, this move wasn't enough to make the difference we needed.

However, since the trade deadline passed, Ray Allen has proved disbelievers wrong with his performance.  Out of the five games after the deadline, Allen has scored over 20 points four times and is averaging 21.8 points per game in that stretch and over 2 three pointers per game.  In four out of five of these games he has led all Celtics scorers in points.  Allen is taking over these games and playing the role that the Celtics need from him.

However, besides his current resurgence after the deadline, keeping Ray Allen does a couple things for our team.  When his large contract comes off the books for next season we could sign a player like Joe Johnson.  Johnson fits the mold of a player that would mesh well with Rondo, Pierce and company.  There are other possibilities in the free agent pool but Johnson makes the most sense to fit the Celtics needs.  Ray Allen could also be resigned to play a lesser role with a cheap contract.  Allen has expressed he wants to retire with the Celtics.  Allen could play a role similar to what Eddie House played prior to being traded.  Daniels could also be resigned to play the role he plays this year.

Possible depth chart for next season:

C: Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace

PF: Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis

SF: Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels

SG: Joe Johnson, Ray Allen

PG: Rajon Rondo

More moves will be made to fill out the roster but signing Johnson and resigning Daniels and Allen would be a great start to forming a championship team.

All in all, it seems that keeping Ray Allen was the right choice made by Danny Ainge.  Allen is playing great basketball now and keeping him puts us in a better position for next season.  But for now we can focus on this season and hoping the injury bug flies out of Boston and we continue playing Celtic basketball.