Sonics deal Allen to Celtics

Jun 29, 2007, 1:00 GMT

New York, NY - The SuperSonics and Celtics made a big trade on draft night, with Boston acquiring shooting guard Ray Allen in exchange for guard Delonte West, forwards Wally Szczerbiak and Jeff Green, who was chosen as the No. 5 overall pick on Thursday.

Also part of the deal, Boston got Seattle's No. 35 pick in the second round, LSU forward Glen Davis, while the Sonics will receive a future second-round pick.

Green's move to the Sonics means an overhaul to the team's frontcourt, as he joins Texas' Kevin Durant, the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's draft. Green, the Big East Player of the Year and a Third-Team All-American as a junior, is also known as a standout defender who uses his strong 6-foot-9, 235-pound frame to its fullest. He averaged a team-best 14.3 points and had 6.4 rebounds a game for the Hoyas last season.

Allen missed the final month of last season with bone spurs in his left ankle. Before then he was averaging a career-best 26.4 ppg and had led the Sonics in scoring on 40 occasions.

The Celtics had the second worst record in the league in 2006-07, as they finished with a dismal 24-58 record. Now, though, Allen will join sharp- shooter Paul Pierce in Beantown, giving the Celtics a potent 1-2 combination.

'Coming into tonight, we knew we were going to add a great player with the second pick and we are thrilled to have Kevin,' Sonics new general manager Sam Presti said. 'But, at the same time, making the decision to move a player and a person like Ray Allen was tremendously difficult. What I can tell you is that Boston really pursued this. Absolutely understand that I think Ray is going to be a great fit for them. I'm just glad Paul Pierce and him are in the Eastern Conference.'

A seven-time All-Star selection, Allen, who turns 32 next month, has averaged 21.5 points over his career, which started in 1996 in Milwaukee. The fifth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by Minnesota, Allen was acquired by the Sonics from Milwaukee on February 20, 2003 and has been regarded as one of the best shooting guards in the league.

'I could not be more excited about coming to Boston to play for the Celtics,' said Allen, who played his college ball at Connecticut. 'I am glad to be back in the New England area and cannot wait to get onto the floor with players the caliber of Paul Pierce and Al Jefferson.'

The Celtics may not be done dealing, as they are still rumored to be in the hunt for Kevin Garnett from the Timberwolves.

'No question, this team, they have no excuses, this team out there,' Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. 'These guys can score the ball. We have experience, we have shooting. We have scoring and knowledge. And I'm not saying our team is perfect and is a perfect fit right now. We still have work to do this summer to prepare us even more.'

The arrival of Durant and Green gives the Sonics a much-needed boost to their frontcourt, and that could prove dominant if Seattle can keep Rashard Lewis from leaving via free agency. Seattle is coming off a disappointing 31-51 season in which it missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

'Now that Ray is gone, and I think Rashard is a free agent, I'd love to get him back,' Durant said. 'He's a great player and one of my idols as well and now he's my teammate well, I hope he's my teammate. If he's there, it's going to be a plus.'

The 30-year-old Szczerbiak joins his third team since breaking into the league with Minnesota in 1999. He averaged 15 points last season, but was limited to 32 games due to ankle injuries.

West, who was moved to the shooting guard spot and then back to the point this past season, averaged 12.2 points.

© 2007 The Sports Network