Does Ray Allen Have A Point?
So this is how Ray Allen spent his 42 birthday. Or maybe he was “hacked” which I’m sure we’ll hear today. The reason I want to talk about this is mostly because since Hayward came aboard and is wearing #20, there’s been some Ray Allen talk among Celtics fans. For the record no, I do not feel like he should have had his number retired, to be honest I’m even on the fence with KG but that is a different discussion for a different day.
Let’s pretend this really was Ray. On one hand, I respect him coming out for his h8ers and speaking his mind. We at Barstool are no strangers to online Twitter/Instagram Warriors so I can understand him letting loose. But here’s the thing, I’m not sure Ray is telling the whole story with these responses.
First things first, we can all agree the Celtics do not win the 2008 title without Ray Allen. I think we can also all agree he was an ideal Celtic during his time here, broke some records, and was everything we hoped he would be when that trade happened. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron. He’s also not lying when he says the Celtics tried to trade him about a billion times during the last few years he was here. In 2012 at the trade deadline the Celtics nearly traded Ray to Memphis for OJ Mayo and a draft pick. This is the trade the public heard about, but it wouldn’t shock me if there were more potential scenarios throughout the years. Remember Avery Bradley was a nipping at his heels and Danny Ainge is known to do Danny Ainge things and make calls all the time. So if Ray wants to play the “you tried to trade me” card, he has every right.
But here’s where things get a little tricky for me. The parts where he says “It’s a business, we go where it’s necessary just like you all do in your jobs!!!!” and “if a team doesn’t recognize that then you keep it moving” Hold the fucking phone Ray, I don’t think you’re telling the whole story here. This is making it sound like the Celtics wanted nothing to do with you, did not recognize your effort, and you had no choice but to go somewhere that did.
I would agree with what Ray said if it wasn’t for the fact that the Celtics offered Ray TWICE the money (2yr/$12M) AND a no trade clause to keep him in 2012, and he left for HALF the money and NO no trade clause to team up with Lebron. You think that was a coincidence? That wasn’t a fuck you signing? In no way was Ray the victim during the summer of 2012. Yes, the Celtics THOUGHT about trading him at the deadline, didn’t, and made the ECF. They wanted to KEEP Ray, and made him the best offer. Does a team do that if they don’t recognize the effort you put in, or want you around for the future?
My beef with Ray initially was that he took less to ride Lebron’s coattails (despite being the reason they won that title but whatever). However, after watching KG’s Area 21, we got to hear from his actual teammates why they were so upset, and my beef changed. Like they said, it’s not that he left, it’s how he left.
Chances are this wasn’t really Ray on his IG account, and I hope that’s the case because I can’t imagine he would have that stance while the whole world knows some of the details on how things went down. I think it’s very possible to appreciate what Ray did as a Celtic and still have a problem with how it ended. Paul Pierce was almost traded WAY MORE than Ray Allen was, and you don’t see him reacting this way.
So Ray, thank you for the 2008 title, but we also can’t forget the 3-14 (2-7) performance in Game 7 in 2010. Or the 0-13 (0-8) in Game 3. Or the 3-8 (0-2) in Game 1. Again, Ray was a great Celtic, that shouldn’t be overlooked, but spare me the whole “I was a victim” bullshit.