So , now that we know Danny is open to using KG at Center.......

[LooseCannon]

Well, I find the Haywood Deal interesting, but where did he rank on the Defensive Centers List? Higher than Perk?

Haywood is considered to be an above-average defender.  He did get one second-team vote for NBA All-Defensive team.  (Perkins got 4.)  He had 2.1 blocks/game, for 4th in 2009-2010.  (Perk had 1.7)  He's good enough that he seems to be able to play credible man-to-man defense against a center like Dwight Howard, but not as good as Perkins.  Mavs fans seem to think he turned out to be a defensive upgrade over Erick Dampier.

He's older than Perkins and actually seems to be not as good on offense.

[Chris]

Yeah great, because KG can easily defend Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Shaq, Lee, Lopez, Kaman, Bynum, Duncan, and guys like Okafor, Okur... You get my drift.

KG can cover all of them other than Shaq (who is disintigrating with each passing game).  And in fact, he is a better defender against guys like Lopez, Lee, Horford, and Bogut (who absolutely destroys Perk).

Perk is a better defender against Howard.  In fact, he may be the best in the league at stopping Howard.  However, KG, Wallace, and Davis have all had significant success against him in the past, so I don't think you can rationalize keeping Perk just to cover Howard.

Oh yeah, and then there is the fact that Perk is a black hole on offense, and at times causes more negative offensively than positive defensively.

[MMacOH]

I think KG would wear down very quickly playing center and being forced to play physical post defense and offense night in and night out

[RAcker]

Pretty sure that the rumored Ray trade for Butler, INCLUDED Haywood--which would have allowed Danny to deal Perk for Boozer--BOTH deals together would make sense--but either deal on their own would NOT....so,no KG at Center.

Agreed.  I don't think Danny ever had plans to move KG to center full time.

[jdpapa3]

I think KG would wear down very quickly playing center and being forced to play physical post defense and offense night in and night out

I can see a KG move to center being similar to Marcus Camby. A center move might actually maximize his talents. Those 2 must have the same length measurements.

[ssspence]

Yeah great, because KG can easily defend Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Shaq, Lee, Lopez, Kaman, Bynum, Duncan, and guys like Okafor, Okur... You get my drift.

KG can cover all of them other than Shaq (who is disintigrating with each passing game).  And in fact, he is a better defender against guys like Lopez, Lee, Horford, and Bogut (who absolutely destroys Perk).

Perk is a better defender against Howard.  In fact, he may be the best in the league at stopping Howard.  However, KG, Wallace, and Davis have all had significant success against him in the past, so I don't think you can rationalize keeping Perk just to cover Howard.

Oh yeah, and then there is the fact that Perk is a black hole on offense, and at times causes more negative offensively than positive defensively.

Fully agree here. It's time to build these team around Rondo, and Danny knows it. Perk's a poor fit, and KG would be far better suited to center at this stage in his career with an athletic young player next to him at the 4 (think Udoh) to be taught by him.

Perk's going to be traded. NO would be a good fit -- trade him for their lottery pick.

[ssspence]

Pretty sure that the rumored Ray trade for Butler, INCLUDED Haywood--which would have allowed Danny to deal Perk for Boozer--BOTH deals together would make sense--but either deal on their own would NOT....so,no KG at Center.

Agreed.  I don't think Danny ever had plans to move KG to center full time.

Haywood's a FA this summer anyway.

[ssspence]

I think KG would wear down very quickly playing center and being forced to play physical post defense and offense night in and night out

Not of the Cs had a 4 who could actually play in the post.

[guava_wrench]

Really?...Why is this even a topic to be discussed?...KG was NEVER going to play Center---the trades would have been:

Ray to Wash for Butler AND Haywood--a CENTER

THEN, Perk + filler to Utah for Boozer...

First trade fell apart---no need for the SECOND Trade---!

No KG at CENTER...ever.

You talk with such authority, but have you actually thought about what you are saying?

You are saying that KG and boozer split 48 minutes. That is ridiculous. KG would have to play some Center, even if Boozer is a sixth man a la Ginobili. There is no way that they are never on the floor together.

Apparently you don't remember the trade rumors back then...and WHO did Washington trade to Dallas?...huh?

Who are you replying to? This doesn't respond to what I said at all. Try understanding what I posted before replying to it instead of stubbornly defending yourself.

You have 48 minutes at PF. If you split them between Boozer and KG, they average 24 minutes per game between them unless they are on the floor together. It makes no difference who else is on the team. One of the two will have to play center, most likely KG. This is elementary school math.

[Chris]

I think KG would wear down very quickly playing center and being forced to play physical post defense and offense night in and night out

Well, I think it depends who you have as your PF.  There aren't that many bruising centers left in the league, and if they were to get a guy like Boozer, who is strong, then you can have him do a lot of the post defense.  It would be much like how they play KG and Davis together.  Davis is ussually the one digging guys like Shaq out of the post, and then KG is able to help out, if they get to the rim.

Not to mention the fact that I think given KG's knees, the running around the perimeter with some of the athletic PF's he has been guarding, might wear him down significantly quicker than the 2-3 bruising centers in the league.

[Brendan]

Not to mention that Boozer's post game and Rondo's penetration could foul the opposing center out of the game.

[Chris]

Not to mention that Boozer's post game and Rondo's penetration could foul the opposing center out of the game.

And it also allows KG to relax more on offense and settle in even more as a high post center, with Boozer controlling the low post.  KG spends a ton of energy fighting for post position on offense these days, but he wouldn't have to do that nearly as much, if they put him next to a better offensive player like Boozer.

[Brendan]

Not to mention that Boozer's post game and Rondo's penetration could foul the opposing center out of the game.

And it also allows KG to relax more on offense and settle in even more as a high post center, with Boozer controlling the low post.  KG spends a ton of energy fighting for post position on offense these days, but he wouldn't have to do that nearly as much, if they put him next to a better offensive player like Boozer.

Yeah - KG doesn't like to bang against the big guys on D, but he doesn't like to bang at all on offense.