The Boston Celtics had had a pretty solid summer retaining some of their key components from last season's Finals team, but they lost one of their top reserves Sunday when guard Tony Allen agreed to a three-year, $9.7 million offer from the Memphis Grizzlies, a league source confirmed.
Allen was a key during Boston's run to the Finals, guarding the likes of LeBron James, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant with next to no help during several stretches of play, and providing unexpected offense on occasion for the Celtics. Allen and Glen Davis were instrumental in Boston's Game 4 win over the Lakers in the Finals that tied the series at two games apiece. He shot 51 percent from the floor for Boston, averaging 6.7 points per game, and had shown increased maturity and consistency this season.
The Celtics wanted to re-sign Allen, but were unwilling to give him a third guaranteed year. The most Boston offered was a two-year, $5.2 million offer, with a partial guaranteed third year. At that point the 28-year-old Allen decided to entertain the Memphis offer, which has no partial guarantees or team options.
The Grizzlies like the toughness that Allen is expected to bring to Memphis as a reserve behind guard O.J. Mayo and small forward Rudy Gay, who agreed to an $82 million deal earlier this month.
