The Big Three stays intact

The Celtics are giving it another run at an NBA championship with their veteran cast. First Doc Rivers announced he would return as head coach for the final season of his contract. Then Paul Pierce re-signed with the team for four years.

And now, Ray Allen has agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Allen will have the ability to opt out again next summer should he so choose.

The offseason couldn't have worked out any better for Kevin Garnett, who had to have been wondering, at least a little, if Rivers, Pierce and Allen would all leave and he'd be left all alone. Now they're all back and we'll have to see what they have left.

Boston was 52-30 during the regular season, masked by an incredible run to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Everyone figured that this playoff run was their last chance but apparently the Celtics are going to try and squeeze another title out of this group. Allen had one of the great shooting games of all-time in Game 2 of the Finals, then couldn't hit anything the rest of the way, in part because of a thigh injury suffered early in Game 3. But Allen was definitely the most consistent of these three players this past season, with Pierce and especially Garnett battling injuries that slowed down their game. Fortunately for all of them, Rajon Rondo emerged as the new superstar of the team this season, though he has obvious flaws (like horrific free throw shooting).

The Celtics now must fill out the rest of the team, beginning with someone to fill in while Kendrick Perkins recovers from ACL surgery. They're said to be looking at both Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal as possible options. Rasheed Wallace's contract is a chip they have to play in the trade market and Tony Allen remains a free agent. But the core is back for what the Celtics hope is one more run at an 18th title for the franchise.