Perkins taking a shot at Danny Ainge?

[Drucci]

Yes, I know, another Perkins thread. But this time it's to discuss some of his quotes and other interesting lines from Marc Spears' latest article (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-afterthebuzzer031111) about Perkins :

When the Boston Celtics sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly before the passing of the NBA trade deadline, Kendrick Perkins(notes) was stunned by the finality of the move. No longer would he wear the fabled green jersey of the Celtics, the only franchise for which he’s ever played. No more would he line up alongside the same four teammates who had carried the Celtics back to prominence.

And yet Perkins wasn’t surprised.

After turning down a four-year, $30 million extension offer from the Celtics in early February, Perkins knew his future with the team could be limited. The Celtics began exploring trades for their center during All-Star weekend, league sources said, and eventually completed a deal with the Thunder on deadline day.

“I’m just glad I got traded to a good organization, not a [expletive] organization,” Perkins said.

Perkins went from a veteran championship contender that had come within a game of winning its second title in three years to a young team that – with Kevin Durant(notes) and Russell Westbrook(notes) leading the way – seems poised to contend for many years to come. In his three weeks with the Thunder, Perkins has experienced the same level of professionalism he was accustomed to in Boston. And as much as he loved playing in Boston, the pace of Oklahoma City is much closer to that of his native Beaumont, Texas.

If Perkins had any concerns about his future with the Thunder, they disappeared when the team gave him a four-year, $36 million extension before he’d even played in a single game.

“I feel like I was wanted – and that’s a good thing,” Perkins said. “You always want to be at a place where somebody wants you.

“It’s just like being at home in Texas. There are a lot of similarities as far as the weather, the food, the people. The people have been extremely friendly. You don’t have to worry about a horn being blown at you and five seconds later there is a red light.”

Perkins’ teammates were disappointed to see him leave, and Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has spent the weeks since trying to explain the trade by citing Perkins’ injury history and contract concerns. Perkins hasn’t taken Ainge’s comments personally because he always knew it would be difficult for Boston to keep him, given the money it had already committed to Paul Pierce(notes), Kevin Garnett(notes), Ray Allen(notes) and Rajon Rondo(notes).

Perkins continues to speak with Rondo daily and has kept up with his other former teammates, head coach Doc Rivers and Ainge through text messages.

“Sometimes when you do something wrong, sometimes you have to find a reason to cover it up – they don’t want to make themselves look bad,” Perkins said. “But at the end of the day, I’m happy where I’m at. Obviously, they didn’t want to spend some money on someone else big.

“I don’t wish bad on them. I want them to have great years in Boston. I think it’s going to be OK on both ends. There is no bad blood.”

Oklahoma City’s need for size and an interior defensive presence was no secret. Perkins is considered one of the NBA’s top defensive centers. No one doubts his toughness, and his lengthy playoff experience is valued on a team where many of the players have appeared in just one postseason series.

“The thing that I like is he’s been on a championship team,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “It’s very difficult to get there. He knows the steps. One day, hopefully, he can be one of the pieces to get us there.”

Perkins is glad he won’t have to test free agency while the league is trying to negotiate a new labor agreement. By signing an extension with the Thunder, he assured himself some financial stability.

“It relieves a lot of stress off your shoulders,” he said. “You don’t want to wake up every day thinking about that or where you might be.”

Perkins also is getting closer to making his debut for the Thunder. He’s been sidelined by a left knee sprain he sustained shortly before the trade, but Brooks hasn’t ruled out playing him Friday against the Detroit Pistons.

“You’re always a little nervous coming to a new situation, a new team,” Perkins said. “I’d be lying to you – everyone would be lying to you if they said they weren’t nervous in their first game.”

Obviously it's not really a "shot" but the line in bold (“Sometimes when you do something wrong, sometimes you have to find a reason to cover it up – they don’t want to make themselves look bad,” Perkins said.") make me thing he is implying it was a bad trade.

[Marcus13]

The entire league knows we made a bad trade, he doesn't need to point it out though and bring himself down to that level.  A little unprofessional but nothing to get worked up about

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think the context of wrong is not that it's a bad trade, but more of a standpoint of doing a wrong to someone, in this case Perk being wronged by the organization, as he feels it.

[barefacedmonk]

After turning down a four-year, $30 million extension offer from the Celtics

Why does the media keep running with this? How could Perkins turn down something that was never offered?

[indeedproceed]

Meh....I don't think its really anything worth discussing. Perkins believes he could've given more to the C's, and believes the C's undervalued him..that's just how I think most people would feel...Danny is going to talk about all the cool things his new toys can do that his old toys couldn't.

Just looks like everyone is making their own rationalizations and moving on.

[Marcus13]

After turning down a four-year, $30 million extension offer from the Celtics

Why does the media keep running with this? How could Perkins turn down something that was never offered?

Sports reporting at it's finest

[BudweiserCeltic]

After turning down a four-year, $30 million extension offer from the Celtics

Why does the media keep running with this? How could Perkins turn down something that was never offered?

Not only that wasn't offered, but couldn't be offered period.

[greenpride32]

Perkins and his agent already discussed signing with OKC during the past offseason as a FA this coming offseason (I don't have links handy but there were several reports of this that came out after the trade was announced).  I think Perk would have liked to stay in green, but the financials simply would not have worked out for the C's or Perk.  We already have too many big contracts for next year (over $50m is committed to the big four for next year). 

So basically Perk knew he was on his way out in the not too distant future.  His ideal situation would have been to win another title and skip town for his big payday.  Our (the C's) ideal situation was to improve our team if we could; and I believe we did that for this year and next.  I think the Marquis injury really helped to push this trade through because nobody on our roster can backup P at the 3.

There's no bad blood between the two parties, and nothing but mutual respect.  But it's just the nature of the business.  I know most are siding with Perk, but he's basically taking hte money just like Posey.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.  But the reality is Perk had just as much to do with the parting as the C's did.   

[droopdog7]

The entire league knows we made a bad trade, he doesn't need to point it out though and bring himself down to that level.  A little unprofessional but nothing to get worked up about

If the entire league thinks this, they'd be wrong.

[Roy H.]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

[BudweiserCeltic]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

Shaq was better with our starters was what he said if I remember correctly. And how health issues couldn't a huge concern? There's spinning and then there's living in denial.

And Ainge said that he was a big fan of Perk as you say and that he wishes him well, but that he thought that this trade makes our team stronger. The rest are just the reasoning behind it whether you agree with it or not is a different issue. I think Ainge has been fairly honest in this regard and his views are shared by many people, so it isn't all spinning.

[mgent]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

You forgot the king of all "shots," that Green is a better defender.  For a guy who is only in the league because of his defense and was a key piece to one of the best defenses in the league for 3 consecutive years, that's gotta hit Perk where it hurts.

Personally I think the "I feel I was wanted" part was a little interesting because TA said the same thing about Memphis.  Even though Perk wasn't actually wanted like TA was for salary cap reasons, I wonder if our organization comes off as less caring than others.

[BudweiserCeltic]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

You forgot the king of all "shots," that Green is a better defender.  For a guy who is only in the league because of his defense and was a key piece to one of the best defenses in the league for 3 consecutive years, that's gotta hit Perk where it hurts.

Personally I think the "I feel I was wanted" part was a little interesting because TA said the same thing about Memphis.  Even though Perk wasn't actually wanted like TA was for salary cap reasons, I wonder if our organization comes off as less caring than others.

That's not what Ainge said, but whatever.

[FLCeltsFan]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

TP and well said.

[mgent]

If Perk is miffed, it's probably because he keeps reading quotes from Danny that his health was a major issue, that Shaq was the better player, and that Perk wanted too much money by rejecting the lowball, CBA-mandated extension offer.

I'm sure Perk has a different view of the reality of each of those situations, and if he talks about Danny trying to look good by covering up the truth, my guess is that's what he's talking about.

I wish Danny had just said, "Listen, I made the trade that I thought was best for the team.  I was a big Perk fan, and I wish him the best."  Instead, we've gotten reason after reason about why the trade had to be made (with some of those reasons evolving over time.)  Danny has seemed to be in full-on spin mode, and I've found it a bit distasteful.  I'm sure that Perk feels the same way, since his former boss is basically taking shots at him on his way out the door.

You forgot the king of all "shots," that Green is a better defender.  For a guy who is only in the league because of his defense and was a key piece to one of the best defenses in the league for 3 consecutive years, that's gotta hit Perk where it hurts.

Personally I think the "I feel I was wanted" part was a little interesting because TA said the same thing about Memphis.  Even though Perk wasn't actually wanted like TA was for salary cap reasons, I wonder if our organization comes off as less caring than others.

That's not what Ainge said, but whatever.

Danny: "Jeff Green could be a better defender than Perk Right Now and in future"

Was that not a thread on here?