Link:Now that Ray Allen plays with the hardest-working big man in basketball, now that he's part of a rare NBA star trio, now that he can see a championship more clearly than ever, let this be known:
Sometimes, not getting your way is wonderful.
Invigorating, even.
This is like a child being forced to eat brussels sprouts, only to find chocolate inside.
Allen didn't want to leave Seattle. The Sonics traded their most accomplished player to Boston anyway. Allen accepted it with his customary professionalism, and this past week, he received the ultimate welcoming gift.
Kevin Garnett in Celtics green.
With Allen and Garnett joining incumbent star Paul Pierce, the Celtics are more relevant than they've been since Larry Bird retired.
And Allen is about to discover a level of happiness he wouldn't have experienced here.
"I was very content with where I was," Allen said. "Sometimes, contentment brings upon mediocrity. You have to be careful of that in sports. Sometimes, you've got to shake it up."
On June 28, draft night, Allen was shaken. New Sonics general manager Sam Presti traded him to the Celtics for Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.
Allen remembers meeting with Presti several days before the deal. Allen was hearing rumors he could be traded.
"I asked him about it," Allen said. "He told me if he had the opportunity to make the team better, he would do any trade.
"I guess he thought trading me would make the team better."
Allen believes the Sonics could've been "one of the top three teams in the Western Conference" if they had kept him, re-signed forward Rashard Lewis and formed a trio with Kevin Durant.
I've argued the opposite. An Allen-Durant-Lewis combination wouldn't have allowed the Sonics to maximize the talents of all three players because they all like to roam on the perimeter. The Sonics still would've been deficient inside. They would've made the playoffs — barely — and lost in the first or second round.
It's interesting, however, to hear the view of a player who was committed to make it work.
"Obviously, the Sonics saw differently," Allen said. "It just didn't seem like it made sense. But now Rashard is in a good situation in Orlando. And I'm in Boston with Paul and KG."
Initially, Lewis and Allen will look like the big winners in the Sonics' makeover. Lewis will help the Orlando Magic make the playoffs and probably show new dimensions of his game. And if Boston adds three decent, role-playing veterans at point guard, center and on the wing, Allen will play in the NBA Finals next season.
