Allen and Pierce were virtually traded last month
Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Ray Allen was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies for 20 minutes:
As the NBA trade deadline lurched into its final hour a month ago, league sources say the call Ray Allen long feared had come: Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was on the line, telling him he had been traded. Allen had been sent to the Memphis Grizzlies for a package including O.J. Mayo and a draft pick, and the Celtics' Big Three had come to a most brusque ending.
For 20 minutes or so, Allen had to process the information. They traded me to Memphis? And yet, as the disappointment dissolved to anger, Rivers returned with a messenger’s nightmare: Never mind. The deal fell apart. Take a deep breath and let’s go back to work again.
While you try and imagine how would the Celtics do without Ray Ray and with the addition of OJ Mayo, it seems he was not the only member of the Big Three that was virtually out of the team:
Before the Big Three could make it past the trade deadline, Allen-to-the-Grizzlies had to fall apart and discussions on a deal that would have sent Paul Pierce to the New Jersey Nets for an expiring Mehmet Okur contract and a lottery pick never reached completion, league sources said. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge loves the talent in the 2012 NBA draft, but he still gets one more run, one more chance with this group in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
What worries me is that this may weigh in the decisions that have to be made by our free agents this summer. Will Ray have decided to move on and sign for another contender? Is Pierce happy with almost being traded after 14 years in Boston? Check out what he recently said about contemplating retirement:
This could be my last year playing. He then laughed, making it seem he was perhaps kidding. But he didn’t step back when asked about it further.
“You never know, man,” Pierce said. “I don’t know. I’ve got to preserve my body for the rest of my life.” Hit with the basic John McEnroe line — you cannot be serious — he shook his head.
“I don’t know,” said the second-leading scorer in Celtics history. “I’ve thought about it. I don’t know. I’ve got to see how my summer goes with my kids.”
It was noted that he is scheduled to make a lot of money next season ($16,790,345), and there are partial guarantees for the year after.
“Yeah, but I don’t play for the money,” Pierce said.
It is hard to imagine Garnett returning to the Celtics if Pierce and Allen left. So there you go, cherish all these games that you may have not had if the dices had rolled differently. Enjoy the ride because you never know what´s next.
Let´s go Celtics!
