Rivers Confident Allen, Green Will Return To Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) - Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is happy to have Kevin Garnett back in the mix, and is confident Ray Allen will follow suit.
"It's a stretch for me to see him go somewhere else," Rivers said of Allen on Sunday, talking with ESPNBoston's Peter May.
Allen, 36, is now a free agent with plenty of potential suitors. The Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks are all said to be interested, and Allen has said he will take his time in making a decision.
The Celtics are reportedly offering Allen a two-year, $12 million contract.
"We really want him back and I really think at the end of the day that he will be back because this is such a good fit for him," said Rivers. "We need him back and we're trying to get him back. We can offer him more money. Yes, there are a couple of teams way under the cap who might be able to offer more money. But other than that, we can offer him more (than Miami or Memphis). He already lives here. He knows his role and everything else. It's a stretch for me to see him go somewhere else."
In addition to Allen, the Celtics are also setting their sights on Jeff Green, who missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm in January.
But Green is healthy and ready to play some basketball, and Rivers is confident it will be for the Celtics.
"We're going after Jeff. We're going to get Jeff. I believe that, yes," said Rivers. "Obviously, you never know, until it's signed, but Jeff has a great relationship with the team, the players and he really wants to play here. So I think if we get the numbers right, he'll definitely come to us. And if we don't, if somebody comes in and blows him away, then it's a business thing because I really think he wants to play in Boston. He loves the crowds. He wants to play here and that gives us an advantage."
In addition to Allen and Green, the Celtics have reportedly shown interest in veteran guard Jason Terry.
