According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, a blockbuster trade fell through at this year's trade deadline. The deal would have sent Ray Allen from Boston to Memphis. According to ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg, it would have landed the Celtics both O.J. Mayo and a first-round draft pick
Doc Rivers confirmed this story, saying, ""It was a scary moment, for all of us. If you lose Ray, that's a scary moment. He's pretty good."
"Pretty good" hardly describes the all-time leading three-point shooter.
While we could evaluate the future and beat the dead horse that every other news outlet seems to be pillaging, it'd behoove the NBA community to consider what could have been. More specifically, the potential benefits that the Celtics would have received.
Both Allen and Mayo are poised to become free agents after the 2012 season concludes. While we could speculate the potential of Allen staying in Boston, it would be hard to imagine the Celtics passing up on Mayo with nothing but money needed to acquire him. At the least, it's likely Danny Ainge takes a long look at the former USC Trojan.
Due to Allen's potential departure, however, it's hard to see why the Celtics didn't pull the trigger. Rather than holding onto a player with the hopes of one last title run, why not trade for a young player with playoff experience and a first-round draft pick? In other words, why not prepare yourself for multiple title runs?
At this point in time, the Memphis Grizzlies' first-round draft choice would be 23rd in the draft. That would have given the Celtics the 21st, 23rd and 24th draft picks in this year's first round. That's three potential starters and a young O.J. Mayo to replace an aging player who may not be around next season.
This is not to discredit Allen, as I have the utmost respect for what he remains capable of. The fact of the matter is that a player with trade value is something to shop around. A player who will be a free agent in 2012 but also has trade value, however, is almost always a player worth trading.
Ray Allen is no exception.
While we cannot change the past, we can always evaluate in retrospect. Celtic fans have nothing to fear with Allen on board, but the question may forever remain: What if the Boston Celtics had pulled the trigger?
Let's hope that this year's Kenneth Faried doesn't go where the Grizzlies pick.
Jon Sim Jason Arnott David Clarkson Patrick Davis Tyler Eckford Mark Fraser
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