So, Krstic is the starting C at the moment.
To me, this is completely irrelevant. We all know that Krstic will be on the bench come playoff time, and if he isn't this team is in trouble (and they would have been in just as much trouble had Perk been here, since it would mean that the Oneals are still hurt).
I just don't see the logic in saying that a player already on the team is replacing a teammate.
We are talking about roles, this is not a puzzle where each piece has a finite position on the roster. As the roster changes, the roles change too.
For example, this year, did Wafer replace Tony Allen? I would argue that Daniels replaced Tony Allen as the first wing off the bench, and Wafer replaced Daniels as the second wing. When spots open up, guys can move up the depth chart to replace them, it doesn't mean you have to replace someones role from the outside.
I am kind of at a loss of how there is even any confusion about that.
Shaq and Perk were going to split the C spot when both were healthy. Now, Shaq will split the time with someone else.
I agree with that. But with the roles likely changing, then I think the expectations change as well. I think if you have Shaq with the starters, then it greatly negates some of the loss from Perkins that some are suggesting there are with Krstic.
And then where you have either Krstic, or JO playing with the second team, I think the difference is also harder to quantify, since I don't think Perk and Davis were nearly as good a combination as Davis and either JO or Krstic, and I think the second unit can benefit from the offense those guys bring, and will not be hurt as much by the downgrade defensively (with Krstic...JO is not a downgrade).
This has nothing to do with "Good trade" vs. "bad trade", just the logic of the comment.
I understand that, I just disagree with your logic.