Ainge regrets not resigning Tony Allen

Danny Ainge, during a radio interview on Thursday, expressed regret over not re-signing Tony Allen last summer. He attempted to clarify his comments yesterday.

“We offered Tony the same deal he got in Memphis, but maybe it would have been different if we made that offer initially,” said Ainge. “We were trying to maintain our flexibility this summer and the following summer. It wasn’t about money. It was about years and flexibility. With Ray (Allen’s) and (Kevin Garnett’s) contracts being done at the end of next year, we wanted to keep that cap flexibility.”

Ainge acknowledged that Allen later decided that Memphis, overall, was a better situation for his desire to expand his role.

“I’m not sure that initially he wanted to leave, but once he was wooed and started thinking, ‘Wow, maybe this is a bigger role,’ it changed,” said Ainge. “I’m not sure that Tony always liked his role here in Boston. I don’t think we understand how hard it is playing behind Ray and Paul (Pierce), just because they’re so good. So any time something goes bad, we have to get Ray and Paul back in. Tony saw a different situation for him. I’m not dwelling on it, and that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be standing here today. I don’t think he’s a savior for a team.”