I love Perk and appreciate everything he has given this organization, but IMO this was a fantastic deal that doesn't decrease the chance of # 18 this year and helps bridge to the future.
I think it's clear to say that the roster will now look like this.
PG: Rondo / West / Bradley
SG: Ray / Wafer/ Bradley
SF: PP / Green/ Ray
PF: KG / BBD / Green
C: Shaq / Kristic / Sheed ( I have to imagine) / BBD
1) The C's still have a ton of size, especially when they sign Sheed or another buyout. Yes they are older, but they have the ability to give 18+ fouls still and throw their weight around. With BBD, Shaq, Kristic and Sheed that is still more beef and size than probably any team in the league has at Center .
2) The C's won a championship in 08' with James Posey at the PF and KG at the center position for a majority of the games. Rondo, Ray, PP, KG and Posey was the go to lineup for that team . In crunch time , it was Posey that was in the game not Perkins.
The C's have been doing the same thing with BBD this year, and now have the ability to do it with Jeff Green, this trade makes them much more versatile and able to match up with any team and style .
3) THEY GOT A FIRST ROUND PICK FROM THE CLIPPERS. You can never go wrong owning one of the clippers 1st round picks .
4) It must have been made clear that Perk was going to demand a huge salary and Danny wasn't willing to pay. Sure Perk is a great defensive low post center, but he doesn't have much of an offensive game , isn't a great rebounder, isn't in the game at crunch time ( BBD usually is) and is coming off of a major knee injury .
5) If the C's can resign Jeff Green for around 10 mil a year the C's will be at around 40 mil on the cap for 2012. If the CBA doesn't drastically change the salary cap ( around 55-58 mil) , the C's would still be in position to offer a max contract to Dwight Howard .
A roster of ...
Rondo
pp
Jeff Green
could be very enticing to Howard . That would be a super athletic and defensive team with Rondo, Green and Howard running the floor.
I hated the trade when I first heard it , but this to me could be a steal of a trade, especially if LAC give us a lottery pick.