http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2011/02/in_case_of_perkins_some_are_ac.html
 
 Danny did the Fair thing. 22 million for four years is about right for Perk's overall talent Level.

 Factor in the shoulder and Knee problems, and it's fair to say you can't go to 9 million a year.

 He  tried to be loyal, but Perk wants his money, and we can all understand that.

I fully agree. It's not easy to see Perk go, just as it was not easy to see Posey go, but both moves will end up as very smart moves for Danny

It's also about timing.  One could argue that the Celtics could afford to pay Perk 8-9 million a year if the Big Three were 5 years younger and the team could afford to stay above the salary cap long term.  However, given the fact that the C's are eventually going to have to make a push for a big free agent, they really couldn't afford to have Perk locked up for that long at that price, especially given his health, which if it went south, could make him untradeable. 

Oklahoma City is different.  They have their young core together.  They have the luxury to do this and still know they can use a midlevel exception next summer.  They don't need to get under the cap. 

No way that works. In their primes KG made 17-22, PP and Ray were in the 16-18 range.  Add to that Rondo at 10.  You'd have over 70m committed to 5 players if Perk got 8-9.

I think even now with Ray at 10 and PP at 15 the C's would have trouble fitting Perk in at that amount even if they thought he was worth it.  That was probably a larger factor in letting him go. 

Perk wanted to get paid, just like TA and Posey.  Can't blame him for it, and good for him and his family.

I didn't think he was worth more than $7 mil/year, either.  Danny made him a fair offer in what he honestly believed Perkins' top market value was worth (at least in the case of the Boston Celtics' perspective).  Tough to see a fan favorite go, but it was the right move.  With his string of injuries and prior surgical procedures, that $9-10 million a year mark was a bit too high. 

This certainly was not a case where you go the extra mile for one of your guys and overpay him out of respect.  Perk was a vital part of the team, but he wasn't one of the "main, main, main" guys. The Celtics believed he had good talent, but that it certainly wasn't irreplaceable.  Danny has made it known for years that he listens to all inquiries and "kicks the tires around" with all players on the roster, nobody is safe from being traded.  He needed to fill a void in the roster at the 3, traded a vital part of the team, but got back his 3, as well as another 5, whom thus far has exceeded expectations and is making everyone deal with the trading of Perk just a little bit easier.

I wish nothing but the best for Perkins.  He was a big part of the '08 title team, and was probably the missing link in last year's game 7, though we can never know 100%.  However, basketball is a business, just like your local 7-Eleven is a business.  You reward your employees with raises as you see fit, only on rare occasions overpaying if you honestly need to, because you really can't or don't want to lose that piece.  Whether it's out of respect or any other reason, you overpay rarely.  Business is black and white and you can't let those shades of gray get in the middle when it comes down to the dollar and product you are trying to put out there, and that's what Danny was doing when he pulled the trigger on the trade.