Perkins taking a shot at Danny Ainge?

[BballTim]

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.)

  I think Perk would have more of an issue if it was a straight Krstic for Perk trade and Danny said we were a better team. I can see Perk taking *some* exception to what Danny said but it's not like Danny told Perk he was being unloaded for those reasons, or that Perk didn't know that the team was upset to see him go. Some of the things you read kind of sound like Danny was shopping Perk, but the reality is that he was the only valued asset Danny had aside from the big 4.

[RockinRyA]

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.

that's my opinion as well. And of course some are gonna say that he is just doing some spin.

And let's say we got tossed in the first round and signed perk to an extension similar to the thunder. Won't the fans crucify Danny for sacrificing our future for an injury prone center? Didn't some of the guys here have the same reaction after the powe situation? And how about the so-called "lowball" offer to Posey? Isn't Posey performing lesser than even that "lowball" offer warranted?

[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.)

  I think Perk would have more of an issue if it was a straight Krstic for Perk trade and Danny said we were a better team. I can see Perk taking *some* exception to what Danny said but it's not like Danny told Perk he was being unloaded for those reasons, or that Perk didn't know that the team was upset to see him go. Some of the things you read kind of sound like Danny was shopping Perk, but the reality is that he was the only valued asset Danny had aside from the big 4.

Oh, I hear you.  But put yourself in Perk's shoes.  He just busted his butt to get back early to help the team.  How is that effort repaid?  By being told "You're not as good any more.  You're not the rebounder (not true) or shot blocker that you were before, and we're just as good on defense without you.  In fact, the new small forward we just picked up might be as good of a defender as you are.  In short, we don't need you".

I think I'd be irritated, too.

[Fafnir]

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.)

  I think Perk would have more of an issue if it was a straight Krstic for Perk trade and Danny said we were a better team. I can see Perk taking *some* exception to what Danny said but it's not like Danny told Perk he was being unloaded for those reasons, or that Perk didn't know that the team was upset to see him go. Some of the things you read kind of sound like Danny was shopping Perk, but the reality is that he was the only valued asset Danny had aside from the big 4.

Oh, I hear you.  But put yourself in Perk's shoes.  He just busted his butt to get back early to help the team.  How is that effort repaid?  By being told "You're not as good any more.  You're not the rebounder (not true) or shot blocker that you were before, and we're just as good on defense without you.  In fact, the new small forward we just picked up might be as good of a defender as you are.  In short, we don't need you".

I think I'd be irritated, too.

Yeah, its tough to be traded. Especially from a contending team where you've been a starter during their entire run.

I'm just glad he went to a good young team.

[BballTim]

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.)

  I think Perk would have more of an issue if it was a straight Krstic for Perk trade and Danny said we were a better team. I can see Perk taking *some* exception to what Danny said but it's not like Danny told Perk he was being unloaded for those reasons, or that Perk didn't know that the team was upset to see him go. Some of the things you read kind of sound like Danny was shopping Perk, but the reality is that he was the only valued asset Danny had aside from the big 4.

Oh, I hear you.  But put yourself in Perk's shoes.  He just busted his butt to get back early to help the team.  How is that effort repaid?  By being told "You're not as good any more.  You're not the rebounder (not true) or shot blocker that you were before, and we're just as good on defense without you.  In fact, the new small forward we just picked up might be as good of a defender as you are.  In short, we don't need you".

I think I'd be irritated, too.

  I think that Perk knew that he wasn't back to pre-injury form yet. And I can all but guarantee that what he was told in private was completely different than much of that.

[quidinqui33]

“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 think the original poster forgot to bold a key part of this quote.  To me, it seems Perk was saying that it was clear that Danny was going in a different direction when he gave JO the midlevel for two years and to a lesser extent brought in Shaq at the vet minimum.  Obviously, the JO signing is looking to be a pretty big mistake which may have tied the Cs hands a bit from giving perk more money (not sure if that is true or not), but I can see how it can look that way to Perk.

[ejk3489]

“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 think the original poster forgot to bold a key part of this quote.  To me, it seems Perk was saying that it was clear that Danny was going in a different direction when he gave JO the midlevel for two years and to a lesser extent brought in Shaq at the vet minimum.  Obviously, the JO signing is looking to be a pretty big mistake which may have tied the Cs hands a bit from giving perk more money (not sure if that is true or not), but I can see how it can look that way to Perk.

Well they gave that money to JO because Perk wasn't supposed to be back until the after the all-star break. They had no choice, they needed a center.

[Gomesfan]

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

It was a good trade!!!

[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.)

  I think Perk would have more of an issue if it was a straight Krstic for Perk trade and Danny said we were a better team. I can see Perk taking *some* exception to what Danny said but it's not like Danny told Perk he was being unloaded for those reasons, or that Perk didn't know that the team was upset to see him go. Some of the things you read kind of sound like Danny was shopping Perk, but the reality is that he was the only valued asset Danny had aside from the big 4.

Oh, I hear you.  But put yourself in Perk's shoes.  He just busted his butt to get back early to help the team.

And show that you'll be worth a good contract next year.

How is that effort repaid? 

By trading you to a very good young team who's contending, where the GM reworked your contract to get paid more THIS year and getting a long-term contract while you're still injured. Job security and more money.

By being told "You're not as good any more.

He isn't and not as valuable to us.

You're not the rebounder (not true)

Yeah, wrong info here.

or shot blocker that you were before,

True.

and we're just as good on defense without you.

Ballpark true.

In fact, the new small forward we just picked up might be as good of a defender as you are.

Out of context.

In short, we don't need you".

Which is true.

I think I'd be irritated, too.

Yep, it's understandable. But let's not cry about getting traded when you had your own agenda. So let's not be hypocrites here. It was clear to just about everyone that Perk wasn't going to be here with us after this year.

But whatever, this isn't worth spending more energy on. DA also has shoes that we could put ourselves in, but little consideration has been given on that. Instead let's focus on the he said she said crap.

[jasail]

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.)

Perk has every right to have hard feelings towards Danny.  DA called a role player a role player, and sometimes it sucks to hear the truth. Beyond that he is an injured role player with an expiring contract who will end up playing only about 15% of games this season.  

I love Perk but with the exception of the Jeff Green defense comment, which IIRC was in the context of defensive versatility and guarding multiple positions, Danny hasn't lied.  

Perhaps he didn't need to say all of it, especially since the way Perk worked to come back, but he felt the need to sell the trade to a fanbase that really appreciated the player he sent off.  I think he misread the media and the fan base on this one and is overselling it, but clearly that isn't the way the front office of the Celtics feels.  

I get why Perk is upset, I get why DA is doing it; I see both sides and all arguments.  I think DA was right to trade him but probably should have spoke less about his reasons.  Regardless what is done is done and I wish to god this would just be put to bed.  

[mgent]

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.

I never said it meant a lot, just something to think about.  Roy H. made a thread not too long ago about all the guys who left and whether or not Danny's negotiation style played a part in it.  I think there's at least some decent questions about our organization.

As for TA I definitely wouldn't say no one wanted him here, I know I for one had no problem with Danny giving him a couple chances after his promising rookie year and unfortunate injury situation.  Just because a lot of people couldn't look at him objectively due to risky play and injuries, doesn't mean everyone hated him.  Take a look at Doc or Pierce for instance (guys who saw him much more than we did).

[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.

I never said it meant a lot, just something to think about.  Roy H. made a thread not too long ago about all the guys who left and whether or not Danny's negotiation style played a part in it.  I think there's at least some decent questions about our organization.

As for TA I definitely wouldn't say no one wanted him here, I know I for one had no problem with Danny giving him a couple chances after his promising rookie year and unfortunate injury situation.  Just because a lot of people couldn't look at him objectively due to risky play and injuries, doesn't mean everyone hated him.  Take a look at Doc or Pierce for instance (guys who saw him much more than we did).

No one wanted TA here, only like 3 people, and I was one of them. As for people leaving, who has really that hasn't been traded? And yet people keep signing with us with our limited resources.

This is really no different than any other team in this aspect. I just don't think it's worth giving too much thought, or worth singling out the Celts over.

[Dunn]

There is no slight on Danny, Perk isn't taking a shot at nobody except Boston weather and traffic compared to Oklahoma City. This post title is an exaggeration.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

lol what else do you expect perk to say? All players think they're more valuable than they are, just ask TA. And perk always speaks his mind so no big deal here.

[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

It was a good trade!!!

We'll see in June.  If we're in the Finals, you can argue it was a good trade.  If we're not, then this was an obvious failure by Danny Ainge