04/25/24
February 25, 2011
Celtics Trade Perkins to Thunder, Get Green: The Boston Celtics traded center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green, center Nenad Krstic a 2012 first-round draft pick and cash. "No one saw a deal of this magnitude coming," writes Bob Ryan.
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:06 AM - 15 comments
When I heard about this trade yesterday, I was going to post it but hoped that it wasn't true.
Damn, I hate for the Celtics to lose a guy like Perk considering he was coming back from an injury. I agree with Debo though, Shaq better stay healthy because we're going to rely on him for the playoffs.
posted by BornIcon at 10:32 AM on February 25, 2011
What are the odds Shaq could stay healthy? Are the Celtics counting on the emergence of cyborg technology?
posted by rcade at 10:53 AM on February 25, 2011
It worked for Robocop.
posted by BornIcon at 10:54 AM on February 25, 2011
If you're still trying to wrap your mind around who went where and why, this Basketball Prospectus article is a good place to start.
Boston, I don't understand what you're doing. Even stranger than the Perkins trade is the outright give aways of Marquis Daniels, Semih Erden, and Luke Harangody. Until they pick up a buyout candidate I shall continue to remain confused.
I guess the Celtics will forever be undefeated in playoff series with Perk in the lineup.
posted by tron7 at 11:00 AM on February 25, 2011
Perkins was key to the Celts' last NBA Title, the guy is a game changer without gaudy statistics and a true team player. He just can't stay healthy. If he's able to give the Thunder some minutes this year, look out Lakers .. he owns Gasol and Bynum.
Jeff Green is a solid 2 way player. Celtics should be much more dynamic on offense with his addition. They'll be stronger defensively against teams with no proven bigs (Chicago/Miami/New York).
Bottom line .. good players going both ways, but the Celtics don't deal Perk unless they have real concerns over his ability to stay healthy and contribute.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:01 AM on February 25, 2011
Boston, I don't understand what you're doing.
The Ryan article sums it up pretty well. I love Perk, but the Celtics were never going to be able to resign him at the end of the year and he's managed to re-injure his knee already. They are definitely taking a risk this year with the center position (though Doc hearkens back to the championship run when they used to put James Posey in at 4 with Garnett at 5 to go small) but it's a heck of a move for the future and for this year as well (without Daniels, who's lost for the year, there's no backup for Pierce).
the outright give aways of Marquis Daniels, Semih Erden, and Luke Harangody
Salary dump for potential buyouts; they want Troy Murphy, but so will everyone else if he becomes available. Daniels is done for the year, so no loss there, but I thought the other two were serviceable pieces.
As a Celtics fan, you can bemoan the loss of Perk and the loss of toughness, but Danny Ainge has done a heck of a job transforming this from a team that has maybe one more year left in the tank, to a team with a spark of future life with Rondo, Green and Avery Bradley.
posted by yerfatma at 11:10 AM on February 25, 2011
Not following NBA lately but isn't Krstic a big man/center? Won't he take enough minutes to help Shaq avoid exhaustion?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:39 AM on February 25, 2011
Yeah but he's European so that means he's contractually obligated to not play defense. Or weigh more than 240 pounds.
posted by yerfatma at 12:46 PM on February 25, 2011
And Jeff Green's departure from OKC was pretty much the same as Perkins. Expiring contract and no way they were going to break the bank trying to outbid other teams when they've got Westbrook's new contract looming.
OKC also added Nazr Mohommad which only cost them a pretty good D-Leaguer and Mo Pete, who almost certainly has more DNP-CDs than points this year. They've bulked up on size and, if Kendall can get healthy for playoffs, now have a much better chance in the 2nd round against SA, LA or Dallas.
The first round of playoffs this year - especially in the West - should be pretty lackluster, but man, I'm getting stoked for the 2nd round, in both Conferences. Should be a blast.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:48 PM on February 25, 2011
Kendall? Kendall! Have some respect for Perk.
posted by yerfatma at 02:22 PM on February 25, 2011
Gah, sorry. I've been doing that for the past 24 hours. Too much chattering about the NFL combine and Kendall Hunter. I'll go sit in my shame corner for a bit.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:24 PM on February 25, 2011
contractually obligated to not play defense
Potential Krstic vs Pau Gasol matchup invokes visions of Swan Lake ... pretty for the first 5 minutes, followed by a huge dose of "please make it stop". These guys aren't even physical enough to qualify for Dancing with the Stars.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:50 PM on February 25, 2011
These guys aren't even physical enough to qualify for Dancing with the Stars.
Pau Gasol 2010 Finals against Boston: In seven game he averaged 18.6 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game. His per game averages in both points and rebounds were better than all of the Celtics.
But hey, when have you ever let facts get in the way of bashing teams/players you don't like?
posted by cjets at 03:58 PM on February 25, 2011
I think that Green's defence is the important factor here. It does make Boston more flexible. Pierce and Green is a very good perimeter defense tandem without losing anything on offence. Given the make-up of the East - that's not a bad thing. And doesn't Davis play most of the crunch-time centre minutes?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:25 PM on February 25, 2011
Shaq better stay healthy of they will be screwed on Big Men.