Despite hearing three weeks ago the Celtics might acquire Ray Allen, Celtics coach Doc Rivers hasn't thought much about how his reconfigured team will play.
Rivers said the Celtics "will not be a slow-down team. The coach added that he "doesn't know if [the Celtics] will be an uptempo team."
When asked how he envisioned the Celtics, executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said that was "an October question." The responses hint that remodeling remains.
Ainge hopes to complete more deals before training camp starts because the Celtics do not figure to be a big player in the free agent market. The addition of Allen increased the Celtics' payroll to approximately $63.4 million for the 13 players under contract. With the salary cap projected at $57 million, the Celtics have the mid-level exception worth approximately $5 million and the $1 million exception (worth almost $2 million) to spend.
But don't expect the Celtics to dole out a lot of cash. In recent offseasons, the Celtics have let the purse strings loose only to lure Dan Dickau and Brian Scalabrine in the summer of 2005. Look for the Celtics to use Theo Ratliff's expiring contract, Gerald Green, Tony Allen and possibly, though unlikely, Al Jefferson as chips in trade negotiations.
If the roster stays as constituted, how will the Celtics look next season? The opening night starting lineup would be Rajon Rondo at point guard, Ray Allen at shooting guard, Paul Pierce at small forward, Jefferson at power forward, and Kendrick Perkins at center. Beyond the starters, the only seeming certainty is that the Celtics should score a lot of points.
"I like the fit, but it takes time," said Rivers. "But I think having Ray as a veteran, the [adjustment] time will be cut short. We want the Paul and the Ray part to fit first obviously, then the Paul, Ray, and Al part to fit second. Then, everyone else just has to fit in."
In the 24 hours since the draft night trade that sent the No. 5 pick (Jeff Green), Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak to Seattle for Allen and the No. 35 pick (Glen Davis), the prevailing question is how Pierce and Allen will work together. Pierce and Allen both need the ball in their hands to be at their best, and Pierce seems more comfortable in the role of shooting guard. In comments after the trade, Allen said his best attribute was his ability to adjust to situations and teammates, and recognized the Celtics remain Pierce's team.
Rivers is concerned Pierce and Allen might "over pass" in an effort to showcase unselfishness. The coach said he will focus first on making Pierce and Allen as aggressive as possible, then figure out how they best complement each other.
