NBA Free Agents: Has Time Come for Boston Celtics To Sever Ties With Ray Allen?

Most Boston Celtics' fans would probably rather remember Ray Allen for his brilliant 8-8 performance behind the three point line in Game Two of the 2010 NBA Finals, rather than the atrocious string of performances which followed.

But Allen's 36.7 field goal percentage during the Finals, and his 29 percent percentage from the three point line makes you wonder how long the Celtics can avoid dealing with this issue.

Allen will go down as one of the greatest NBA sharp-shooters to ever roam the court, second in my mind only to Reggie Miller, but his once deadly stroke has become streaky at best.

I'm sure age has bothered the lift in Allen's legs, and fatigue is certainly a factor, but Allen seemed completely spent in Game Seven. His 3-14 performance was hardly what one would expect from one of the greatest shooters of all time.

Allen will be a free agent when the feeding frenzy starts next week. So far the Celtics have been silent on his future as they struggle to get past last week's disappointment.

Celtics' coach Doc Rivers has said resigning Allen is a priority, but his own future is undecided, and you have to figure any move made will take that into consideration.

At any rate the priority for the Celtics' franchise should be remaining relevant in next season's title hunt, and they must decide if Allen has the gas left in his tank to be an integral piece.

If the Celtics should decide to part ways with Allen they should look West to Golden State, and inquire about the possibility of a deal involving shooting guard Monta Ellis.

Ellis is not as good from distance as Allen is, but he is younger and capable of scoring in a variety of ways. He would fit perfectly with the Celtics' screen-curl scheme.

Ellis is an excellent mid-range scorer, and would complement Celtics' point guard Rajon Rondo well with his own energy and athleticism. He would be a dangerous component on the Celtics' fast break.

The move would help the Warriors as well because in Allen they would receive the veteran leadership they desperately need on a roster full of talented, but inexperienced players.

The situation for the Celtics could turn dire, and with the announcement by Rivers that Rasheed Wallace plans to retire, another hole is left to fill by general manager Danny Ainge.

Boston may very well decide that Allen's performance in the Finals was an aberration, and he still has a few more decent seasons left in his weary body. But that is not the image that sticks in my memory.

Allen's historic Game 2 performance will always be a part of NBA Finals' legend, as will his follow-up historically bad night in Game 3. When deciding on Allen's future the Celtics must weigh those options.

But if I was general manager my thoughts would keep returning to Allen's Game Seven performance where he couldn't throw a rock in the ocean, and that image would probably sway my decision.

This is not an indictment of Allen's career or any of the great things he has done, but more of a realization that he may not be that same breath-taking player any longer.