Latest Ray Allen Rumor: Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler

Take it for what you may, there are too many rumors out there to count. This is the most updated one, and this would be a big time deal. Via NBA Yahoo Sports:

"In a dramatic move that would resuscitate their fading championship hopes, the Boston Celtics are discussing a deal with the Washington Wizards for forwards Antawn Jamison(notes) and Caron Butler, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday. The proposed deal would send the expiring contracts of Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine and J.R. Giddens to the Wizards, a move that would signal the start of Washington’s rebuilding process.The trade isn’t imminent, but talks have progressed and Celtics GM Danny Ainge has positioned his organization to make one of the boldest trade deadline moves in years. For the Celtics, ownership would have to agree to take on an additional $24 million in salary next season between Jamison and Butler. Jamison makes more than $15 million in 2011-12, but most owners are discounting those salaries because of an assumption that there will be a labor lockout and some, if not all, of that money will never be paid to the players.Sources expected the two teams to talk further Friday and throughout the weekend in Dallas."

Truth or no truth, that move would be huge. It doesn’t fill the role of the backup point guard we were looking for, but it is basically trading away one good player who is slipping, for two good players who are having very good seasons. Obviously they are playing for the Wizards, so they have to have good seasons, but if you watch them play they can have a big impact for the Celtics.

I don’t think the Celtics just need minor adjustments. It appears they need some that will really shake up the team with change, and this… well this would do it. Again, though, just a rumor (I am getting excited about it then reminding myself how many of these things have already came out in the past few weeks).

UPDATE: Via Ric Bucher of ESPN: Celtics not likely to make the trade with Washington because they would be taking on too much money.

UPDATE 2: Via Boston.com

"Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Friday he has not discussed trades involving the Charlotte Bobcats or Washington Wizards.“There is no truth to either one of those,” Ainge said. “I have had conversations with a lot of teams but those have never been discussed. There are a lot of things I would like to do but I don’t feel a need to do something. I am always looking to upgrade the team, if possible.”"

Danny likes to talk stuff down like nothing is going on. However, read his quotes from Boston.com and you’ll realize SOMETHING is going to happen over the next week.

UPDATE 3: It looks like Butler will be going to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard, and trashes all thoughts of this trade, which is too bad because it was very intriguing.

(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)