<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Contrary to published reports, the Sonics have no intention of trading Ray Allen, their leading scorer and co-captain, and are working on a deal that will keep him in Seattle through the 2009-10 season. General manager Rick Sund began conversations with Allen's agents about a five-year contract extension that could pay the four-time All-Star shooting guard as much as $100.5 million. Sund characterized the discussions as "philosophical talks" that both sides intend to use as a guideline for what could be a lengthy and potentially cantankerous negotiation process. Allen's agent, Lon Babby, is expected to fly to Seattle in two weeks to meet with the Sonics and exchange contract proposals. "We're hopeful we can sit down and talk with Ray and get some type of extension done before next season," said Sund, who added there's no timetable. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Sonics are willing to commit more than $70 million to Allen, who turned 29 last month, but the team is unsure if he's deserving of a maximum contract ($100.5 million).</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times.</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So it seems likely the Sonics will offer Allen, 29, a 2005-06 salary somewhere between $10 million and $12 million; he will earn $14.625 million this season. That would leave the Sonics with about $8 million to pursue other free agents next summer. This past season, Allen said he would be willing to take a pay cut if the team acquired talented players with that money to improve the team. So far this summer, the Sonics have only traded Calvin Booth for Danny Fortson while losing Brent Barry to San Antonio in free agency. They still have their $4.9 million mid-level exception and $1.6 million veteran's exception. "I'm not happy about the direction right now," Allen said. "The team we have right now, I won't place judgment. I still have a lot of faith that we will hopefully make the right decisions and they will put together a good team in this next coming month. Anything can happen." Allen was asked what his decision would be if the Sonics asked him to sign an extension without having made any other moves to improve a team that finished 37-45 and out of the postseason. "I guess it depends," Allen said. "It depends on what the dollars are, what the contract is, everything. I'm not going to go in there with my mind made up about anything. What I am going to do is give the team a fair handshake. Based on how things are done ... I won't make a decision on what has happened up to this point." There is the possibility, a team source said, that no agreement will be reached. The source stressed that does not mean it is a foregone conclusion that Allen would then be traded, particularly since a new collective bargaining agreement ostensibly will be in place next summer, which could change the dynamics of negotiations.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Frank Hughes and the News Tribune.</font> Well, it's nice to see something in print instead of all of these rumours. Reading that doesn't exactly instil confidence in the heart that Ray's going to stay, but it's a start. There is no way he is worth a maximum extension, but in all honesty I think it's the length of any prospective contract that worries me more than the cost. He's in his prime now, but where will he be in two years? Healthy? Will the team be making strides forward? It's a lot of money to invest in a shooting guard. In other news, we are interested in Jon Barry, but his preference is to remain in Denver.
Ray is already sounding pessimistic about this team before the season even starts. As good as he is, he is not worth a maximum contract extension. My gut tells me that he is going to be using his contract status as leverage against the organization all season, and, b/c of his marketability, the Sonics will cave into his demands. Ray this season will turn into Kobe of last season. He'll try to force ownership to do things his way in hopes that he will resign w/ the Sonics. He'll insist that management sign free agents of his choice, he'll be out for Nate's head, and he will do his best to undermine the contributions of Flip. Ray Allen is a great player, but he will not be worth the headaches that I envision him causing this season.
Yea, Ray Allen is not in the Max Contract range. If it was something like in the 14.5 Million dollar per year range for about 4 years, than that would be reasonable. The Nets sign Kidd to a max contract and look what happened, to him, he got hurt and they had to rebuild and now they're looking to trade him. However in order for the Sonics to rebuild, they would actually have to be somewhere first, but they aren't. Hopefully if Ray gets a new contract, its shorter, in the 4 year range, and Ray doesn't get hurt right after he signs the deal like JKidd.
It is good to hear news about whats going on. Ray is a good player but I don't think he can take us to the next level. I would much rather prefer us just letting him walk. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">General manager Rick Sund began conversations with Allen's agents about a five-year contract extension that could pay the four-time All-Star shooting guard as much as $100.5 million.</div> He is definately not worth that much money, Rick Sund would be fool to offer him that <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So it seems likely the Sonics will offer Allen, 29, a 2005-06 salary somewhere between $10 million and $12 million; he will earn $14.625 million this season. That would leave the Sonics with about $8 million to pursue other free agents next summer.</div> That sounds abiut right, but have only 8 million to pursue other free agents isn't much considering some of the players that we would have to resign(flip and vlad). It would only leave us with a couple million to play around and our mle.
I wish the Sonics management would grow some balls and stop messing around. It's time to make a decision and do it. They've had two years to think about this. Either resign Ray or trade him. Same with Radmanovic and Lewis.
I have seen alot worse players get huge contracts, mainly this year but I wouldn't spend this much on Ray unless you have a good foundation already in place. Seattle at this moment in time don't. The Sonics need to fiqure out what team they are actually looking to build first, is Ray in their future plans to build around him? or are they trying to have a team with depth and become more of a defensive unit? I fail to see what direction they are trying to go.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">? I fail to see what direction they are trying to go.</div> You and every Sonics fan. We've spent the whole off-season trying to sign a point guard, still have most of the problems of last season (bar rebounding and a post scorer) and seem to have little foresight on what will happen with Ray, either.
The latest rumour is Isiah Thomas has made Ray his number one target now that it seems unlikely he'll be able to land Carter. Considering Thomas doesn't want to give up Marbury (first rule of the NBA world Zeke, you need to give up value to get value),. one would assume any deal to land Ray would have to be a threeway and probably involve Seattle not getting a ready-made star, but young players with potential.
