<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As he shook off the debris from a game Sunday night that probably did in his season, Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman made a point about Ray Allen that bears noting. "There were times," he said, "when he broke down our focus." Great players have spectacular games all the time in the NBA. But when a player is capable of mentally flogging a team on its own court in a pivotal postseason game, that is a rare thing. Kobe Bryant can do it. So can Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Reggie Miller, perhaps a few others. Even though Allen's game is well-regarded around the NBA, he doesn't often get grouped with those elites who can rip the competitive heart from a foe. Maybe it's because he's spent his pro career on the remote edges of hoops civilization in Milwaukee and Seattle. Maybe it's because he's neither demonstrative nor controversial. Maybe it's because Allen's stereotype as strictly a shootist limits how some view him. Fact is that Allen is as cool a dude as is he is as hot a hoopster. He is also worthy of every ownership effort to keep long-term such a distinctive fellow. In the wake of a 45-point spree that helped cure a 19-point deficit on the road, that's an easy appeal to make. Watching his second-half shred of the Kings generates the kind of emotion that makes many fans eager to spend the wealth of rich-guy owners. But Sonics ownership would be fools to make a four- or five-year guaranteed commitment to a guard, 30 this summer, based on an outrageous night in Sacramento. Or a playoff-series win, or a run beyond that. What a long-term contract needs to be based on is projected production and risk tolerance.</div> Source
I've always liked Art Thiel, best sports columnist in Seattle. Not sure I totally agree with all his statements but he makes some valid points about taking risks and whether the ownership group is willing to do so.
I still say they should up their offer with incentives for performance exceeding expectations. Why don't we see more front loaded contracts like Kenyon Martin's? I thought that deal was brilliant paying more in the early years when he will be contributing more. Unfortunately, there is not a strong current example of a star player taking less "for the team" and actually seeing positive results. Garnett got one stellar year by taking a pay cut, but the whole thing fell apart with the bad attitudes of Cassell and Sprewell. Perhaps the cap room will help them in the free agency/trade arena this summer and return the Wolves to a western power, but that is too late to make Ray feel hope.
Allen's 5 year 70+ million dollar offer is a fair offer and if he doesn't want to take it than he should just walk on by. Our team can not afford to be hampered by anyone's contract now or five years down the road. We have too many other pieces to have to watch them move on b/c of Ray Allen, regardless of how well he is playing this postseason.
