Report: Heat will target Perk in free agency

[Mike-Dub]

Of course they will...but last night I think was a battle of the two centers who will be cashing in this summer.  With Perk looking so good off surgery, he will be right up there with Chandler looking at deals in the 10 million per year range.  He will not be an MLE player.

10 million still seems like overpaying to me I say 6-8 million is about right.

Anyone got a list of players getting paid 10 million this year?

[Who]

I think fair value for Perk is 5 years $40 million.

Not convinced that there are that many suitors out there in free agency who will be willing to pay Perkins a $10+ million per annum deal ... in another FA class, with different suitors -- not cap conscious Oklahoma and Houston or teams like Indy, Sacramento, Memphis and NJ who already have long term fixtures at center -- I think Perkins could get a $50-55 million deal. Just not sure he can get that in this FA class.

I think the best offer Perkins can expect is upwards of 5 years $45 million.

[Mike-Dub]

I think fair value for Perk is 5 years $40 million.

Not convinced that there are that many suitors out there in free agency who will be willing to pay Perkins a $10+ million per annum deal ... in another FA class, with different suitors -- not cap conscious Oklahoma and Houston or teams like Indy, Sacramento, Memphis and NJ who already have long term fixtures at center -- I think Perkins could get a $50-55 million deal. Just not sure he can get that in this FA class.

I think the best offer Perkins can expect is upwards of 5 years $45 million.

Especially with the new CBA coming. Way to unpredictable to predict what deals will be like.

[barefacedmonk]

Perk isn't going anywhere...and the Celtics shouldn't let him go anywhere either.

Look at the way he attacked his rehab and worked his butt off to come back well before it was expected. Speaks volumes about his love and dedication for his team and his own game.

[radiohead]

Well, Perk has said before that he wants to remain a Celtic. The ball is in Danny's hands. It would be interesting how the negotiations come through.

[Drucci]

Perk on the Heat would be scary, he is their missing piece. However I think we should re-sign for the MLE if it's his price (no brainer) and potentially overpay him to keep him and then trade him if need be for 2010. But I must admit I'm not really that sold on the "2012 plan".

[Celtics4ever]

LeBron is a top notch athlete and has good size for his position, that is the only thing that makes him a good defender.  He doesn't a complete skillset on defense or offense.   He is coasting on sheer athletic talent.  

You never see James deny a defender or show superb defensive skills. It's all get in their grill and jump, not top notch defense but sometimes effective.   He lacks the one things that makes a good defender elite and that is determination.   You can extort his ability all you want but he flat out quit last year.  Yeah, I know he stopped PP but PP was working defending him and that limited him.   But fact of the matter is any team with a long athletic defender that is stronger than PP is going to give him problems.  Paul is at his best when can overpower his defender.

I am going to enjoy when his athletic ability takes a dive because his game will plummet fast.

[Jon]

Is there a chance Perk leaves via free agency?  Yes.

Is there ANY chance he goes to Miami for the MLE?  No.  And I mean zero, zilch, nada.  

It has nothing to do with him being a true Celtic or having too much class to play with a poser like LeBron.  It's solely a money issue.  

The guy is 26 years old and already has one ring and hopefully another by the time he's a free agent.  He's not going to take a pay cut for the privilege of playing with LeBron and Co.  

And there's no way Danny doesn't offer an MLE deal.  

The bigger concern is that some other team will get silly and offer a much bigger deal.  But given the fact that money should be tighter under the new CBA, I think the chances of that are small as the teams he could elevate to a title contender won't have money and those that will have money will be so bad that Perk won't be able to help.  

The other thing on my mind is just how a rigid CBA could really help the C's long term.  I'd love to see the MLE eliminated, as the C's could really get by without it next year and it'd really hurt Miami.  Furthermore, if the new CBA causes teams to rethink how to build teams due to financial constraints, the C's are going to be rebuilding in a couple of years anyway, so it really wouldn't hurt them as much as it would hurt teams who expect to be title contenders for years to come. 

[CelticSooner]

I doubt Miami is the only team that will go after Perk. Wouldn't surprise me to see the Thunder target him as well. C's can't afford to let him walk without a reliable big to replace him.

[Tai]

I think fair value for Perk is 5 years $40 million.

Not convinced that there are that many suitors out there in free agency who will be willing to pay Perkins a $10+ million per annum deal ... in another FA class, with different suitors -- not cap conscious Oklahoma and Houston or teams like Indy, Sacramento, Memphis and NJ who already have long term fixtures at center -- I think Perkins could get a $50-55 million deal. Just not sure he can get that in this FA class.

I think the best offer Perkins can expect is upwards of 5 years $45 million.

Especially with the new CBA coming. Way to unpredictable to predict what deals will be like.

Very true, and we're assuming a new CBA is out before the old one expires, and subsequently assuming we'll actually have free agency.

Perk probably could easily get $8M-$10M with the current CBA; great defender if not elite among centers today, only 26, and it seems like even his offensive game is developing. Still, there's a reason people are talking about a lockout. What any player would earn in the current CBA means nothing, nada, squadoosh.

[greg683x]

If anyone else remembers, Perk gave us a very generous hometown discount the last time his contract was up.  Perk's contract was up at a time when over-paying mediocre centers was fashionable in the NBA.  People like Adonal Foyle were getting huge contracts, Brian Cardinal (PF not C) was another, Mark Blount (ugh), Raef LaFrentz to just name a few.

So I guess history would say that Perk will resign here unless Danny refuses to match an MLE offer.  Perk I think would trade a mil or two to stay here in a current winning situation as opposed to leave here and go to a team like New Jersey and be in basketball hell and get paid.

We shall see though.

[tenn_smoothie]

Perk as a Miami Heat along with Wade, James and Bosh would equal serious emotional pain for me.  

Boy, do I like Kendrick Perkins as a Celtic.  His value to me goes beyond his on court contributions.  That guy is a Celtic through and through, and the thought of potentially losing him fills me with despair.

my feelings exactly - i love Kendrick ............. and his comments about how much it meant to him to have the fans welcome him back the way they did in his return game at the Garden a couple of weeks ago tells me he values being a Celtic. add in the fact that he and Rondo are close and that they are the foundation around which the Celts will rebuild in a couple of years and there are very good reasons for him to stay in Boston.

but it's hardly guaranteed and i too think it will take a couple of mill over the MLE to keep him here ......... and i think he's worth it.

how does spending 7 mill per year for one of your key starters handcuff the Celts in free agency given that the Big 3 will be off the books after next season ?

[Jon]

Again, I can't imagine any scenario where Danny won't offer Perk at least a little more than MLE money.  Similarly, I can't imagine any scenario where Perk takes less money to play for the Miami Heat.  He's not P.J. Brown--an over-the-hill vet who has already made his money and is looking for his first ring.  He already has one ring and hopefully have a second.  And at age 26, he's in the prime of his money-making potential.

The last thing he needs to do is to take less money to win a title. 

[Eja117]

It always amazes me when this kind of info comes out. If I'm a gm, there are maybe only two other people that know this info...the owner, and the assistant gm, and maybe possibly the team capologist. So when this info comes out you basically know who blabbed and you fire them.

[jackson_34]

It always amazes me when this kind of info comes out. If I'm a gm, there are maybe only two other people that know this info...the owner, and the assistant gm, and maybe possibly the team capologist. So when this info comes out you basically know who blabbed and you fire them.

To be fair though, this sort of information is pretty useless. I remember straight after 'the decision' heat fans were saying they wanted Perkins. I don't think this report took anyone by surprise. Perk is a young center who hits free agency next year and is seen as acquirable for very reasonable money.