Celtics fans would love to see Ray Allen return to Boston next season. Apparently, so would Danny Ainge.
When asked about re-signing the aging Allen as a free agent, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations told ESPN.com that he’d like to keep the smooth-shooting guard in Beantown.
"I think that is the most likely scenario," Ainge said. "We love Ray. We know Ray has basketball left in him. We have to make wise financial decisions knowing that Ray is going to have other options, but also knowing that Ray has basketball left in him. He's a difference maker in us winning or losing."
Following the Celtics’ loss to the Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the soon-to-be 35-year-old has expressed a preference for staying in Boston.
"I'll deal with that when the time comes, but it's obvious that I don't want to be anywhere else," he said after a disappointing Game 7 performance, where he scored just 13 points in 45 minutes.
The former UConn star earned $19.8 million in 2010, the final year of an extension he signed with Seattle before being traded to Boston in 2007. He'll likely have to take a significant pay cut to remain with the Celtics.
