HoopsVibe

Newly acquired Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen said Monday his surgically repaired ankles are "perfect," and he's looking forward to being a veteran presence.

Ray Allen was under the intense Boston media spotlight on Monday.

Allen, a seven-time All-Star acquired from Seattle last Thursday in a multiplayer trade, met with reporters at the team's training facility, as did second-round draft choices Gabe Pruitt and Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

Allen, who played at Connecticut, said part of his job will be to make things easier for Paul Pierce on the court. The Celtics expect him to be ready for training camp. He had surgery April 7 to remove bone spurs on both ankles.

The Celtics obtained Allen and the 35th pick from Seattle for guards Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak and forward Jeff Green of Georgetown, who the Celtics had drafted with the fifth pick on Thursday night.

 My Quick Take:  I'm not surprised Allen is pleased to be a member of the . His old team, the SuperSonics, have and nothing else. Right now, the only certainty in Seattle is uncertainty.

The team might move. The new GM is young and unproven. There's no head coach. And , the team's second best player, is a free agent. This would be enough to weigh on anyone-let alone a future member of the basketball Hall of Fame.

In Boston, there's friends and family nearby for Allen. There's Paul Pierce on the perimeter. There's Al Jefferson in the middle. And there's a roster full of young, exciting players.

The only thing there isn't is the stiff competition of the Western Conference. No wonder the veteran's ankles are feeling great.

Something else has been slept-on with this trade- Allen is an excellent point guard. In 2002-03, after being traded to the Sonics, Allen split the lead guard duties with Brent Barry. He played twenty-three games for Seattle and averaged six assists.

I'm from the Pacific Northwest. I watched about ten of those twenty-three games. Boston should consider giving Allen some minutes as a lead-guard. He's an excellent shooter, but he's also an underrated passer and ball handler. Allen's presence also gives time to develop as a point guard.

The more I think about this trade, the more I think Boston did quite well.

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