reflections
June 29th, 2007 Celtics Land Ray Allen In Draft Day Deal

The Boston Celtics have acquired seven-time NBA All-Star Ray Allen in yesterday’s draft day deal, which sent guard Delonte West, forward Wally Szczerbiak, and the draft rights to Jeff Green (#5 overall pick) to Seattle, in return for All-Star guard Ray Allen and the draft rights to forward/center Glen “Big Baby” Davis (#35 overall pick). Boston also selected USC guard Gabe Pruitt with the 32nd pick in the draft, who is a big combo guard (6′4”), an excellent athlete, and a very aggressive defender.

Initially, Celtics fans (as well as Sonics fans) had mixed emotions, but C’s fans are certainly warming up to the deal and beginning to appreciate it, as they should. Ray Allen may be turning 32 years old next month (June 20), but he has a lot of basketball left in him. It’s safe to say that he has 3-4 years left at All-Star caliber level, or somewhere close to it, and he will undoubtedly be a key contributor until he decides to call it quits. His game is natural, but physically oriented. In other words, his basketball IQ and jump shot aren’t going anywhere for a long time, much like Reggie Miller.

Some may think we gave up a tad bit too much, but at the end of the day, we got ourselves another perennial All-Star without giving up Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo, or Theo Ratliff’s expiring contract (which is still very much in play for another move either this summer or near the trade deadline). Allen compliments Pierce on the perimeter, as Pierce plays more of a “power 3″ game while Allen perhaps has the best jump shot in the entire league. Mix that combination with Al Jefferson in the post, you have a very special trio just waiting to break through with the addition of a key role player or two. Get your popcorn ready, Celtics fans, basketball is back in Boston. We are relevant again.

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