Ray Allen sees Celtics trading Isaiah Thomas as latest case of loyalty double standard

Caron Butler and Ray Allen most recently waded into the “loyalty” conversation, one that has sprung up in the wake of Isaiah Thomas being traded for Kyrie Irving despite being a beloved Boston fan favorite. Butler posted this on his Instagram, which is actually the text from a viral tweet sent out Tuesday night:

Butler added this caption to it:

@isaiahthomas Much love my brother. I Got traded before. It was painful. Players leave for different team, They’re disloyal!!! A Judas!! Teams trade a player who gave his heart and soul to the city and team, its called business. Hmmm. Does that make sense? The best way to deal with this business is not have any expectations from anyone but yourself. Keep being you. #keepinspiring #example #GIANT

Ray Allen then commented twice, expressing thoughts similar to Butler’s.

@caronbutler i immediately thought the same thing. Why is it that we are disloyal for going to a team we feel will be best for us but their is no outrage towards the team that trade us. Fans kill us but when a team does it, it’s just business. Smh!!!

I expected every Celtic fan to be pissed off at the organization because they showed that they were disloyal to Isaiah. They traded him to your rival!!!!! The team you guys played in the conference finals. Oh wait, now it’s just business!!!

First, regarding the debate itself, both players have good points. Yes, fans generally side with teams before players, simply due to the nature of being a fan. But there should be more understanding when players choose to leave in free agency rather than the vitriol that often accompanies it, given that loyalty isn’t a concept that front offices follow either. It’s fine to celebrate loyalty when it happens, but demanding it and raising your voices when your team doesn’t get it from their best player is hypocritical.

Second, we have to discuss the matter of who said this. When Allen signed with the Heat in 2012, Boston players on that team were pissed. The Celtics had offered him twice as much money, but Allen clearly felt Miami was the better business decision for himself as a player. His legendary three-pointer in Game 6 of those 2013 Finals and championship proved that much.

The Celtics players on that 2012 team have never forgiven him, as evidenced by not inviting him to the 10-year reunion of the 2008 championship. But not even two years after Allen signed elsewhere, Boston dealt Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce — who had never played for any team but the Celtics until being traded — to Brooklyn. They didn’t stay loyal to their two stars who had brought them a championship, yet nobody was mad at Danny Ainge in Boston’s front office.

There isn’t a direct correlation between players being upset at a free agent leaving and fans. Players share a locker room and a deeper connection, and in Allen’s case, there was seemingly more that went on than just him leaving the team.

But loyalty, in general, is a concept that really only seems to exist in one direction — something that players are expected to show while teams skate by without any of those expectations. The more people talk about it, especially former NBA players like Allen or Butler, the more we can expect those expectations to change.