WALTHAM (AP) -- The Big Three of the Boston Celtics very well could stick around beyond their current contracts with a changing cast of supporting players.
Ray Allen will be 34 after the one year left on his contract, Paul Pierce will be 33 after his two remaining years and Kevin Garnett will be 36 after the three years left on his deal. General manager Danny Ainge was enthusiastic yesterday about the idea that they might stay longer than that if they are healthy.
"Absolutely, no question," he said. "If they take good care of themselves, which all three of them do, and they stay healthy I think there's a really good chance. I think all those guys will be up in my office pretty quick looking for more years on their contracts."
Ainge also said he planned to address the contract situation of point guard Rajon Rondo this summer after handling more pressing matters that came with the start of the free-agent signing period Wednesday. Rondo will make $2.62 million next season, and the Celtics can make a qualifying offer after 2010-11 to make him a restricted free agent and allow the team to match any offer he receives.
Glen Davis, a solid replacement when Garnett missed much of the second half of the season and all of the playoffs with a knee injury, plans to seek free agent offers that the Celtics will have a chance to match.
Backup forward Leon Powe was allowed to become a free agent and isn't expected to return.
