Monday Notebook Addendum: Trade Rumors After All

Posted by Brendan Jackson on Mar 5, 2012 2759131 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2012%2F03%2F05%2Fmonday-notebook-addedum-trade-rumors-afterall%2FMonday+Notebook+Addendum%3A+Trade+Rumors+After+All2012-03-05+17%3A31%3A55Brendan+Jacksonhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D27591

As Brian pointed out this morning, a four game win streak can put trade rumors to bed.  It also, however, can start them up.  If the team is playing well, that increases their respective players’ value and then you get, that’s right, TRADE RUMORS!

Here’s SI’s Sam Amick with the news that the Clippers are interested in Ray Allen’s services:

As you’ve likely heard, the breakup of the Celtics may be sped up soon.

Yet for all the talk of Boston point guard Rajon Rondo possibly being traded, some league executives have shooting guard and free-agent-to-be Ray Allen pegged as the most likely to be moved. Sources say the Clippers are interested, having lost Chauncey Billups to season-ending injury and lost out to New York in the J.R. Smith sweepstakes.

But the price is likely too high, as Boston wants a package that includes a young talent and a draft pick. The Clippers don’t have the latter component, though, and there’s a bit of irony involved as to why.

Their 2012 first-round pick went to Oklahoma City in a deal for point guard Eric Bledsoe, and was then moved to Boston in the trade that sent center Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder. The Clippers also had Minnesota’s unprotected 2012 first-rounder, but gave it to New Orleans in the Chris Paul trade.

Even with his age (36), Allen would be a difference maker for any team looking to add offensive firepower. The NBA’s all-time 3-point champion is shooting a career-high 48.6 percent from beyond the arc (third in the league) while averaging 14.8 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting overall.
The Celtics (18-17) are still in playoff position, and they have some incentive to not fall too far this season no matter what moves are made since the aforementioned pick from the Clippers is top-10-protected until 2016. Boston also has its own 2012 first-round pick as well.

As Amick accurately points out, it’s unlikely that the Clippers will have what it takes to pry Allen from the C’s.  The Clips wouldn’t even give Eric Bledsoe up in a deal to get Chris Paul.  Seems highly unlikely they would do it to get Ray Allen  as a one year rental.  The Clips could introduce a third team, but whenever you add another team into a trade scenario, the dicey-ness increases exponentially.

Ryan and I chatted briefly about a potential departure of Ray Allen.  He believes Mickael Pietrus can duplicate a lot of what Allen does offenseively and he brings much more to the defensive table.  While I agree about the defense, I think Allen’s ability to run off screens, tire his opponent, and hit big shots out of timeouts cannot be overstated.

What do you guys think?  Do you trade Ray Allen for Bledsoe and future draft picks?