Ray Takes Pay Cut, Signs With C's

The Boston Celtics and Ray Allen have reportedly agreed to a 2-year deal worth a total of $20 million, keeping the Big Three officially intact. Allen's new contract has a player option for the second year of the deal, allowing him to become a free agent again next summer if he so chooses.

This is a great signing for the C's. Ray cut his previous annual salary by $9 million, and pierce cut his by nearly $7 million. Somewhere, that cap space is certainly going to help the team. Big time team decisions by the two title-hungry veterans. The other great thing about this deal is that it avoids locking up Allen for several years -- you don't want to pin yourself down with guys in their late thirties making 8-figure salaries. Overall, a very good signing. The C's are back to make another run at Banner #18.

It is also rumored that free agent center Jermaine O'Neal has the Celtics on his wish list of suitors. I sure hope the Celtics decide otherwise. Most Celtics fans have grown to dislike O'Neal over the years, and many would prefer they opt for the other O'Neal -- Shaquille O'Neal -- as their role playing big man. Boston also met with Kwame Brown recently.