Only way we trade Perk is if we are totally rebuilding and it would have to be after Perk's next contract when he will be either 28 or 29, and we'll trade him for a project younger big man.
I think this is a stretch. I think there is a very good chance they look to trade Perk this summer, if they cannot come to terms on a reasonable extension.
However, it will not be for a project big man, and a mediocre wing prospect.
I can't fathom what you could be basing this opinion on. Perk will get a contract similar to Rondo's. He's more than earned it. He's improved in some manner each year in the league and he still hasn't hit his prime yet.
One other thing, he reached agreement on a very reasonable contract during his prior negotiations. With that also in mind, what leads you to conclude that he will be difficult to sign?
Locking up him and Rondo up contractually secures the two hardest positions to fill with quality when the big 3 have retired or moved on.
You'd have to get an absolutely one-sided offer in favor of the C's or he has to be severely injured to consider moving him.
I base it partly on the rumor that they actually shopped him for a draft pick last summer.
Partly on the fact that he is a significant injury concern with his shoulder.
Partly on the fact that he is an offensive liability to the point that they strategically looked for a bench player who could take his spot down the stretch of games.
And mostly on the fact that 8 out of every 10 Centers (OK, I made up the actual number, but it is not that far off...it may even be generous) signed for more than $6-7 million per year turn into albatross contracts that their team wants to trade away within a couple years...and Perk seems perfectly suited to join that group, once he is making the kind of money where he is expected to be more than just a defensive anchor.
Perkins is a great defensive player. He is absolutely perfect for this team. He is a steal at 4+ million per year.
However, put him on a team where he is making $10+ million per year, and where he is not surrounded by 3 sure hall of famers to take on the scoring burden, and suddenly, he doesn't look nearly as good.
So unless he is willing to take less than market value, and resign with the C's next summer for something in the neighborhood of 4 years/$30 million, then expect there to be a ton of trade rumors surrounding him, and expect him NOT to be a Celtic beyond 2011, either by trade, or by them simply letting him walk.
Well, has long as we agree that Perkins for Thabeet isn't the answer, I'm willing to accept a trade that means letting go of Perkins for the right players. Thabeet doesn't fit that description AT ALL, and greenhead constructed, IMO, a poor argument for ever pulling the trigger on such a trade.
That all said, keep in mind that you only said it was a rumor, something similar to Rondo, and Doc + Danny have already denied wanting to shop Rondo, and if asked about Perkins, I wouldn't be surprised if they repeated themselves, "We weren't shopping him".
Like always, I'm more than ready to be proved wrong.
