Perkins taking a shot at Danny Ainge?

[Celtics4ever]

Perk seems like a good kid nothing he said was bad.  I wish him well.  I completely understand his disappointment and no one can say he didn't give his all on the court.  

But truth is Perk stats are down this year especially defensively.   That being said Danny did him a little dirty and I have supported the trade.

[footey]

I did not read anything negative towards Danny in this article.

I think Danny has a tendency to say too much sometimes, and comes across a bit defensive. His post trade comments are a good example of this.

[Chris]

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.

I agree with all of this.  Although I would like to hear the context of the interview, since the quote kind of comes out of nowhere, and it would be nice to know what the question was he was responding to.

My feeling though is that Perk isn't that hurt here.  He is just a confident guy, and naturally thinks that Danny doesn't believe these negative things he is saying about him, and is just trying to spin things, because frankly, that is his job.  The fact that he said he has been texting with him tells me he "understands".

As for the "spin" part, I agree, it doesn't come off very well...but I also think Danny believes every word of it.  I genuinely believe he just did not like Perk's game, and has been looking to move him for years, and I think he really thinks this made the team significantly better.

[birdwatcher]

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.

I agree with the first part of your post, but why would anyone say this (in bold). Does anyone make a trade to make your team worse? There is the idea of "spin" and then there is a person's rationale. People questioned why he made the trade, and he answered those questions. If Perk doesn't come back 100% this season, or re-injures himself, does that make his statements "spin" or "truth"?

[clover]

What stands out to me is Perk's "when you've done something wrong" and talking to Rondo every day.

I hope they aren't reinforcing each other's view of Boston having erred with the trade.

[RJ87]

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?

Yup, Ainge did say that and I thought it was definitely in bad taste. And I do find it interesting that Perk echoed TA's comments.

Also, I really agree with you Roy, Danny has been in spin mode... Even though I've come around to the trade in recent weeks, I still feel like he's done an awful lot of public reasoning for the trade - which is odd considering the team is normally pretty quiet about it's business.

[FrDrake]

I agree with footey.  Perkins couldn't have been nicer in the article especially considering how much it probably hurt him to be traded away from his teammates and the only team he ever knew.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ah, so "could be" = "is". Great.

Context on when he said it was based on his team contribution, ability to guard multiple positions, athletic ability, the roster we had at the moment, and Perk's injury doubts.

I see ZERO problem with what was said regardless of your opinion/belief of Perk being a better defender than Green. Of course he is, and Danny also knows this, but that's not the context on which he was speaking on.

[FLCeltsFan]

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.

I'm reading this book right now. It's interesting to say the least.  
http://www.amazon.com/Selling-Green-Financial-Decline-Celtics/dp/0060183012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299875991&sr=1-1

It gives a very negative view of the Celtics franchise, especially from a racial viewpoint.  This comment reminded me of some of the comments in this book and their premise that the Celtics ARE much less caring that a lot of other franchises.   Just thought I'd mention it.

PS:  The book was written by a couple of New Yorkers, which should explain a lot.

[BudweiserCeltic]

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.

Come on, that's quite meaningless in the scheme of things. First, of course you're going to say that about a team that is courting you. Secondly, wasn't DA who kept giving TA chances when pretty much no one in Boston wanted him here? And while injured.

Low offer for Perk, fine, but remember that he made the offer for the max amount he could AND to an injured player.

Sour grapes all around, particularly when with what Perk has mentioned about his plans for free-agency were. And then Danny is the bad guy for protecting the franchise when they have little protection against players leaving.

[KJ33]

Perk's not playing right now.  Until he does, he is not better than anyone.  Many have made issue here that this year home court is important.  No trade would have meant an extremely thin team for the next few weeks which likely would have resulted in some losses and heavy minutes on the big 4, worsening the playoff position, even if Perk did make it back in some capacity. 

It just is not valid to compare things with and without Perk and pretend his injury does not exist.  It is a major reason the move was made.  People keep comparing the current lineup to one with Perk in it, but Perk would not have been in it for the foreseeable future.  In fact, many people at the beginning of the year, questioned whether it was possible that he would ever be at his best for the whole season, even if he was healthy enough to come back and play(which presently he isn't).  Now all of the sudden, the C's traded away the backbone of their defense, etc. and it is assumed that the Perk traded was the same guy as pre ACL injury?

If Marquis didn't go down and Perk was who he was before he got hurt, the trade never happens.  It is not largely about Perk and his game and limitations.  All of that would have been acceptable at full strength.  It is because there are huge question marks about his health, RIGHT NOW, and having no backup to Pierce that the trade was made.  Comparing it to Shaq not being healthy also misses the mark because Shaq was not going to bring back a talent like Jeff Green.

Danny did what he could with what he had and to maximize the team's chances for this year and the future.  I just don't see how people think they would have been positioned for a deep run with a rundown big 4 and Perk making it back at 75% for the playoffs.  It is not Danny who is spinning, it is those who are pretending we traded the pre-injury Perk, not the question mark that he is now.

[Roy H.]

Here are some of Danny's quotes, from the Shaughnessy interview:

First of all, we were leading the conference because of Shaq. We had a better record with Shaq than we did with Perk. Our offense was better and our defense was at least the same. I don't think Perk is Perk yet. I hope that he becomes that for Oklahoma City's sake. We thought it was going to take some time for Perk. He wasn't the shot-blocker or the rebounder that he's been in the past. We think that by adding Jeff Green (Green had 21 against the Warriors last Friday), Nenad Krstic and Troy Murphy, we think we're a better team than we were. Shaq was starting for us when we had the great run this year. Baby [Glen Davis] was finishing for us. So we basically lost middle minutes.

I just think we have every bit as good a team now, and it helps us for the future. And the numbers back that up. Now if Shaq and Jermaine [O'Neal] can't play we could be in trouble. But Perk's out for three weeks right now. He's coming off an ACL tear and he's got a sprained MCL on the other knee, so the health of all of those players is in question. I'm a Perk fan. Love him as a player. But I think he's a player that is not irreplaceable. Time will tell."

I understand why Perk would feel under-appreciated after reading that.

(Also, the comment about Perk not being the rebounder he was before seems odd, since Perk was rebounding at his highest percentage since his rookie season.)

[Marcus13]

"Now if Shaq and Jermaine [O'Neal] can't play we could be in trouble"

Oh Lord, even our GM knows he killed us

[BudweiserCeltic]

Here are some of Danny's quotes, from the Shaughnessy interview:

First of all, we were leading the conference because of Shaq. We had a better record with Shaq than we did with Perk. Our offense was better and our defense was at least the same. I don't think Perk is Perk yet. I hope that he becomes that for Oklahoma City's sake. We thought it was going to take some time for Perk. He wasn't the shot-blocker or the rebounder that he's been in the past. We think that by adding Jeff Green (Green had 21 against the Warriors last Friday), Nenad Krstic and Troy Murphy, we think we're a better team than we were. Shaq was starting for us when we had the great run this year. Baby [Glen Davis] was finishing for us. So we basically lost middle minutes.

I just think we have every bit as good a team now, and it helps us for the future. And the numbers back that up. Now if Shaq and Jermaine [O'Neal] can't play we could be in trouble. But Perk's out for three weeks right now. He's coming off an ACL tear and he's got a sprained MCL on the other knee, so the health of all of those players is in question. I'm a Perk fan. Love him as a player. But I think he's a player that is not irreplaceable. Time will tell."

I understand why Perk would feel under-appreciated after reading that.

(Also, the comment about Perk not being the rebounder he was before seems odd, since Perk was rebounding at his highest percentage since his rookie season.)

But DA said he loved him, give him credit for that. Love all around.

Meh, not going to lose any sleep about a role player taking exception to being called a player that's not irreplaceable.

[BballTim]

"Now if Shaq and Jermaine [O'Neal] can't play we could be in trouble"

Oh Lord, even our GM knows he killed us

  So you're saying that Shaq and JO won't play and Danny knows this?