Tony Allen signs with Memphis Grizzlies
Update: This seems official. Alex Kennedy of Hoops World tweeteth (via Red’s Army), “Tony Allen agrees to three year, $10 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to sources. Allen wanted to return to Boston at the same price but the Celtics didn’t want to pay him.” The Celtics might really regret letting TA walk. They must have wanted him to waive the third year, but why wouldn’t they offer $9-$10 million for two years? I don’t get it. Does Danny Ainge have some trade cooking to land the C’s some backup wing help?
Tony Allen is a Jekyll and Hyde basketball player: one minute he’s shackling Kobe Bryant and running out in transition for explosive dunks; the next minute he’s shooting the world’s ugliest jumper, or driving with his head down for an easy charge.
So it should come as no surprise to Celtics fans who have watched Tony Allen that, days after Greg Dickerson reported Allen would re-sign with Boston, Allen is close to signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. (The Commercial Appeal)
The Grizzlies are close to agreeing on a contract with Boston Celtics free agent swingman Tony Allen, The Commercial Appeal has learned.
Allen, 28, is an unrestricted free agent and the Griz are hoping to sign him to a multiyear deal starting at roughly $3 million.
If Allen does in fact leave Boston for Memphis, 1) he is an idiot (What does Memphis offer that Boston doesn’t besides maybe an extra year?) and 2) the Celtics will miss his defense and energy off the bench.
Because Boston is over the luxury tax, they are hogtied when it comes to replacing Allen. Ainge will have to sign a wing player with the veteran’s minimum, which limits the players Ainge has a chance of wooing to Boston. Say what you want about Allen — and we’ve said it all here at Celtics Town — but Allen did a serviceable job off the bench this past season and his production is not likely to be replaced by any free agent swingman available for the league minimum.
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Celtics Blog, Featured | Tommy King | July 11, 2010
shit
not good
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Not at all. But isn’t $3 million a little too low for the Celtics to let him go? He only goes there for $3 mil if he wants out of Boston.
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Rasual Butler
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I like it, but I don’t know if he’s a vet. min guy.
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All the more reason for Ronnie Brewer
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That would have to be a sign-and-trade. No way he signs for the min. What would the trade be?
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how about Joe Alexander as a project backup SF—his length and athleticism would help on defense and rebounding—has a lot of skills, just needs to gain confidence and Boston might be the right spot—-Def a veteran minum guy—and he is young—
6″9- 225—40inch verticle—Huggins product i would take a chance on him—he was a high draft pick
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He’s an enormous project. No way Doc would ever let him off the bench.
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i think he is on offense, but i could see him give minutes off bench if he learns to move his feet better and learn the defense, b/c his size and athleticism are rare—-
Good investment—u still have rasheed contract to get a wing player if tony is gone
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grab ronald murray tough strong good size combo gaurd can play in playoffs showed it in atlanta—-vet minimum
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I wouldn’t mind Flip. He can play.
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Terrible non-move by the Cs. They are really going to miss his defense and energy off the bench.
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I want to see who Danny wants to replace him with before I pass judgment.
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no need to panic the same happened with James Posey who was way better than Allen. I’m going to throw a crazy crazy idea out there but I just like it and I have no idea what the Celtics are doing at this point. So here it goes: nate sign-and-trade to the Timberwolves with Glen Davis and a few draft picks for Kevin Love and Ryan Gomes (They want to trade Al and that’s not happening.Can they trade Sessions for a Center like Javale Mcgee?). And Rasheed Wallace for Leandro Barbosa. Hey I said it was a crazy idea! Let’s hope something good happens!
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nevermind!!!! Barbosa being trade for Turkoglu!! wow there goes my crazy idea… well ok let me change that… Rasheed for Rudy Fernandez??? the contracts don’t match though… yikes
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traded*
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I would love Rudy on the team. He’d be a really nice fit.
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Now Gomes and Barbosa are both off the market. I like the idea of Kevin Love, though, but the T-Wolves apparently want to keep him around.
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Bad move. $3.5 Mill a year is very fair for what he provides – athleticism, intensity/effort/energy, top 5 defender at SG/SF, best in the league at steals (highest steal %).
Maybe Celts wanted two years so he expires with KG and Ray, but its not like that is a big contract or an albatross contract. It is very possible that TA will be just as good in three years, and there is a place for him on every team.
But at the Grizzlies he not only gets an extra year but probably more playing time as well.
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I think his extended playing time will fast get shortened when they’ll see him handling the ball on the offensive end
Apart from that, I really hope all this is part of a greater picture drew by Danny Ainge, that made TA a negligible asset.. because I don’t think Harangody or Matt Janning will be able to defend on LeBron, Wade or Kobe.. yikes
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Yikes is right. I almost cried at the thought of Harangody trying to defend Kobe.
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C’s definitely wanted two years, but I don’t get why they wouldn’t overpay for those two to keep him around. Ainge must have a plan.
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damnn barbosa and Hedo off the market, killn me late at nite—-Danny is crying
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Danny better have a plan. Cuz right now losing TA seems bad.
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i would say shawn marion is a got fit but his contract is crazy paying him 9 million when he is 36 in 3 years
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Yeah, Marion would only happen if an opposing GM slips Ainge a roofie.
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i got the guy Marvin Williams, hawks are shopping him too—huge SF—25 years old—6.7 million—perfect straight up trade for sheed contract—-youth movement–can hit the open 3—lot of upside
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Williams is enticing. He’d be a major addition to the bench. But would Sheed’s contract alone be enough? I don’t know.
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yea hawks want cap relief after joe johnson robbed them—-rasheed 6.7 million contract is same amount as Williams
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That would be a hell of a deal.
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