Ray Allen signs 5 year deal with Seattle

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

Ray Allen was wooed by LeBron James, Mike Dunleavy and that Atlanta Hawks for the last five days. In the end, he decided that there was no place like home. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0 vspace="5" hspace="5"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8>[size=-2][/size]</TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=2>[size=-1]Ray Allen[/size]
[size=-2]Shooting Guard
Seattle SuperSonics[/size]</TD><TD width=65 rowSpan=2>

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=67>[size=-2]Profile
[/size]</TD><TD width=68></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8>[size=-2][/size]</TD><TD width=200 bgColor=#ecece4><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=190 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#ae5a00><TD colSpan=6><CENTER>2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS</CENTER></TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD width="17%">[size=-2]GM[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]PPG[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]RPG[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]APG[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]FG%[/size]</TD><TD width="17%">[size=-2]FT%[/size]</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#bcbcb4><TD>[size=-2]78[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]23.9[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]4.4[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2]3.7[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2].428[/size]</TD><TD>[size=-2].883[/size]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Allen's agent, Lon Babby, said Tuesday morning that Allen has agreed to terms with the Sonics on a five-year deal.

Babby refused to divulge the contract amount. The Sonics' last known offer was for 5 years, $75 million, and their latest offer is expected to exceed that.

Allen can't sign a contract until the league lifts its player movement moratorium. That ban is expected to be lifted on July 22, though there's been talk around the league that it could be pushed back as much as week.

The move should have major ramifications for both the Sonics and the rest of the free agent market.

Now that the Sonics have re-signed Allen, look for them to get aggressive in bringing back the rest of the pieces, including head coach Nate McMillan, that helped the Sonics secure a third seed in the West.

The Sonics are also trying to re-sign free agents Vladimir Radmanovic, Antonio Daniels, Reggie Evans, Jerome James and Ronald Murray.

Allen's agreement with the Sonics will also have affect on a number of other free agent two guards looking for new deals. The Clippers and Hawks had made Allen a top priority, and the Cavs had Allen as their back-up plan should Michael Redd decide to return to Milwaukee.

With Allen now out of the picture, expect both Los Angeles and the Atlanta to turn to the next top available free agent guards -- Joe Johnson and Larry Hughes. Johnson is a restricted free agent who has garnered a large amount of interest around the league. However, teams have been slow to offer him a contract because of the Suns ability (and stated intention) to match any deal.

Hughes is an unrestricted free agent who, statistically, was at the top of his class. However, it's been widely assumed that he'll re-sign with the Wizards. The Wizards can offer Hughes an extra year and more money than either the Hawks or Clippers. After those two, the market drops off pretty dramatically. Bobby Simmons, Marko Jaric, Cuttino Mobley, Latrell Sprewell and Gerald Wallace are the next best guards on the board.

DAMN IT!

royalfan · Jul 5, 2005

Sorry Clip. What do you think about Cat Mobley if they could snag him for 5 million or so and keep Simmons also. Mobley might be a good enough fit and they might have some nice depth at the 2-3 spots.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

royalfan said:
Sorry Clip. What do you think about Cat Mobley if they could snag him for 5 million or so and keep Simmons also. Mobley might be a good enough fit and they might have some nice depth at the 2-3 spots.

I really don't like Mobley much but he is better than what we have, that's for sure.

Ray Allen staying home really hurts our chances of upgrading. Hughes will stay in Washington because they can offer an extra year and more cash than anyone...Redd is staying home or going to Cleveland, but most likely staying home...Joe Johnson is a restricted free agent and Phoenix said they will match all offers so he is staying home...bad, bad, bad news.

We have to make sure we resign Simmons now.

Aquatic · Jul 5, 2005

This new CBA makes it tough from a dollars standpoint to change teams. Your current team can offer you another year and usually that means 20 mill you would be leaving on the table to leave. Michael Redd will probably stay with Milwaukee as well.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

Aquatic said:
This new CBA makes it tough from a dollars standpoint to change teams. Your current team can offer you another year and usually that means 20 mill you would be leaving on the table to leave. Michael Redd will probably stay with Milwaukee as well.

That is why I thought we had a shot at Allen...they wouldn't offer him the extra year. The Clippers actually offered more money for the 5 years than Seattle did. He just didn't want to leave.

:sad3:

Aquatic · Jul 5, 2005

Shows you how attractive being a Clipper must be. They are just bargaining chip.(ask Kobe & Q)

Dawoofdaddy · Jul 5, 2005

Ray certainly deserves better than a Clipper uniform. Also, he a class act player in a league with plenty of assholes.

I doubt many veterans like Allen desire to play for a bumb franchise like the Clipnuts. He would have no chance for a ring playing for a lifeless team like the LAC.

Congrats to the Sonics and Ray Allen.

:103631605

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

He will be at home during playoff time while the Clippers will still be playing. :103631605

RobFunk · Jul 5, 2005

Why Ray why?

He'll be on a .540 team that loses in the 1st round every year.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

RobFunk said:
Why Ray why?

He'll be on a .540 team that loses in the 1st round every year.

Unless they resign all of their free agents (highly unlikely) and find a way to convince McMillan to stay (probable), they won't make the playoffs next year. All of these players could be gone:

Vladimir Radmanovich
Antonio Daniels
Reggie Evans
Jerome James
Ronald Murray

This team is heading in the wrong direction. Very surprised by this signing.

RobFunk · Jul 5, 2005

Yeah, you're right Clip. They're going to blow chunks. He'll be more stressed out than GP when he played there, and Ray is'nt the player the glove was in his prime.

Can you believe Seattle was in the finals not too long ago? Seems like yesterday Payton and co. were getting dunked on by Jordan and Pippen.

spreadbeater · Jul 5, 2005

Sorry to hear that Clip.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

RobFunk said:
Yeah, you're right Clip. They're going to blow chunks. He'll be more stressed out than GP when he played there, and Ray is'nt the player the glove was in his prime.

Can you believe Seattle was in the finals not too long ago? Seems like yesterday Payton and co. were getting dunked on by Jordan and Pippen.

That team was fun to watch...Shawn Kemp served up more facials than any NBA player I can remember. His "in game" dunks were better than anyone I can remember.

I still remember Payton throwing lobs off the backboard to him in critical parts of the game. Those 2 were sick together.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

spreadbeater said:
Sorry to hear that Clip.

Thanks man...this really blows. I was waiting to see who we landed before I upped my season tickets to courtside. I don't think I am going to make the jump this season as it looks like we will be a lower end team again in the West unless something crazy all of the sudden happens.

I think we will still be a playoff team if we resign Simmons, but we don't have much of a chance to make a big splash yet. But the offseason is still young and we'll see what happens.

:sad3:

gwienges · Jul 5, 2005

Smart move by sonics

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

gwienges said:
Smart move by sonics

The Sonics really played this well...they didn't budge. This was basically the same offer they made him all season that he kept turning down. That is why I am so surprised he resigned with them.

They stood their ground. They could have offered a 6th year and more money but they didn't. It kind of makes me scratch my head at why Allen resigned. He must really love the area. Because even if he didn't like the Clippers or Hawks, Cleveland was going to come after him pretty hard too once Redd resigns with Milwaukee.

FatTony · Jul 5, 2005

Don't sweat it. He was never coming here.

I'm pretty good at figuring the Clips and more and more I'm hearing Paul Pierce is on his way. Ainge wants him off their team BADLY!!! I get that same itch in my balls that I had when they made the move for Andre Miller.

Clips aren't getting Redd, Johnson or Hughes. Not happening.

ClipJoint · Jul 5, 2005

Fat Tony said:
Clips aren't getting Redd, Johnson or Hughes. Not happening.

Nobody is landing those 3...they are all staying put.

I will be so pissed if we trade for Pierce. That makes no sense. His contract will limit the ability to sign the guys we could bring back. He will make over $12 million next year. Maggette makes $6 million and puts up very similar numbers and has improved each year.

That will be another bonehead trade in the long line of Clipper moves. But I won't be shocked because Dunleavy and Maggette don't like each other. The Clippers called Boston a while ago trying to work a deal for Pierce and Ainge wouldn't even consider it. Now he is shopping him around and I am sure the Clippers will be on the list of places to send him.

:sad3:

WildBill · Jul 5, 2005

Clip Joint said:
Unless they resign all of their free agents (highly unlikely) and find a way to convince McMillan to stay (probable), they won't make the playoffs next year. All of these players could be gone:

Vladimir Radmanovich
Antonio Daniels
Reggie Evans
Jerome James
Ronald Murray

This team is heading in the wrong direction. Very surprised by this signing.

Boy CJ your rose colored glasses were as dark as night. Wrong direction? Maybe for a Clipper fan but it makes plenty of sense for Seattle and I don't think Ray Allen was that off in staying. They made a great showing in their first year back in the playoffs in a long time. Those other guys you mentioned, while important, were mostly thrown together on this team. You can't tell me most of those guys were in high demand before the year started. If they resign Nate and get maybe two guys on that list I am sure they will be doing well yet again. I think the Sonics are being highly underestimated. They are going to field another winning team with Allen and Ridnour anchoring the team and likely McMillan on the bench. The rest of the pieces will be guys other teams aren't that fond of. Lots of overlooked players would love to come to Seattle because the uptempo style means wins and good stats.

royalfan · Jul 5, 2005

I was listening to the Rome show for a few moments when i ran a couple errands. They had an NBA guy on there talking about this very situation. Said Hughes is a lock to stay in Washington as we assumed, and that the Clippers will likely offer Simmons a little more than the Bulls but he may want to play for a winner and go back home for a little less. His words about the winner part, not mine.