Why Ray Allen is as Good as Gone

Allen—the NBA’s all-time leading three-point shooter—is incredibly important to Boston’s offensive game plan. He stretches opposing defenses to the point of wafer thin, has one of the league’s quickest releases and knocks down open shots as consistently as anyone. And that’s why he’s not going to stick around to be Avery Bradley’s backup.

Bradley, is an incredibly promising talent. He’s athletic, willing and provides a dash of youth to an otherwise aging roster. But he’s not Ray Allen, and while that works for Boston—especially Rajon Rondo—it doesn’t work for Allen himself. He may be 36 going on 37, and he may have just underwent arthroscopic surgery, but he’s still a starter.

Any number of teams—including the Bulls, Clippers, Heat and Knicks—would jump at the opportunity to add Allen. And while not every team could offer a starting role, there are more bona fide champion contenders than the Celtics who Allen could come off the bench for if it came to that.

It’s highly unlikely that Allen just spurns Boston without some serious consideration, but given that his starting job is already gone and the team may be on the precipice of a serious rebuilding period, there’s plenty of other options out there that are easily more appealing.

So, as Celtics fans cling to the hope that Allen and Garnett will take massive pay cuts to return to Boston, they would bode well not to waste too much time on the former. Unlike Allen, Garnett’s starting job awaits him next season. It’s much easier for him to justify accepting less money to assume the same role.

But to accept less money and a diminished role? That may be a reality Allen is not yet prepared to come to terms with. One or the other is a possibility, but he’s got too much fight and too much pride him to accept both right now.

Breaking up the Big Three has been a painstaking option the Celtics have explored for nearly two years, but now, after the emergence of Avery Bradley coupled with their unwillingness to overpay an aging sharpshooter, a decision may have already been reached for them.