Question: Ray Allen, from Bucks to Sonics

[Silas]

I know this is REALLY old but I didnt exactly pay attention.

I was wondering why the buck's parted ways with Ray Allen in his prime, along with Flip Murray, for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.

I know there were tons of rumors swirling around GP's departure at the deadline, but does anyone know the real specifics of the trade?

[Its_asdf]

Ray Allen wasn't getting along with George Karl. After the big three split up they just decided to trade him too I guess. I'm not too sure though.

[Andrew]

Interesting footnote to that trade, Payton was due to play his 1000th game as a Sonic but the deal prevented that from happening.

[Laker Socks]

Bucks wanted cap space. Gary Payton gave them that.

[gnohgnek]

did that trade bring up the combination of Sam Cassell and Gary Payton in Guards...? i don't really remember, or the combination was somewhere else?

[Laker Socks]

Yes, that trade led to a GP-Cassell tandem.

[[Q]]

Bucks wanted cap space. Gary Payton gave them that.

yeah I think he was paid like $13 mil that year. After the season was done, his contract was over and the Bucks had money to spend. GP then was "guaranteed" a ring with the Lakers and the rest is history.

[Tuomas]

Wasn't Cassell then already a part of the Timberwolves? Somehow my NBA memory has some blur over this one.

[Andrew]

No, he was still playing for the Bucks at that point. He was traded to the Timberwolves the following offseason though.

[Tuomas]

Oh ok. Thanks for clearing that out.

Btw, more on the big three, where's the Big Dog these days? Retired?

[Andrew]

I don't remember him retiring officially, but he's got his ring and he's made a lot of money, so I guess he's not in any rush to get back into the league.

[The X]

I know he talked a lot, but I don't think the Sonics should've traded Payton ahh well....

[Silas]

Well it was certainly a steal for the sonics, but it seems like Ray was so much talent to just trade away for nothing.... That was really the last year payton was an above average player, now hes just an average PG who defends well....

[shadowgrin]

Michael Redd already showing flashes of what he can do may have also contributed to Ray's trade.

[[Q]]

That was really the last year payton was an above average player, now hes just an average PG who defends well....

true, but you seem to forget that in Seattle, he was without question the team's leader and main scoring option, but after leaving Seattle was always second to the team's current star. and his numbers in LA were amazing considering he played with both Shaq AND Kobe. He averaged 15 ppg & almost 6 apg with one of the lowest TOs per game of his career. plus he was the only laker that year to play all 82 games.

[benji]

The Bucks didn't trade for Payton for "cap space" they wanted to RESIGN Payton, but they didn't bother to ask him if he'd even consider resigning when they traded for him and he didn't want to stay anyway. The Bucks traded Cassell and Johnson in order to try and clear the space necessary to resign Payton.

The Sonics traded Payton because they didn't want to resign him to a max contract.

The Bucks traded Allen because he and Karl wouldn't stop feuding and Allen wasn't playing any defense at all. And they foolishly thought Payton would resign.

The Sonics also got Luke Ridnour from a draft pick involved in the trade. So the deal worked out today from the Bucks perspective to Allen and Ridnour for Magloire.

[Silas]

ah it all makes more sense now, thank you