Sometime in Jan or early Feb Danny said he liked the team as constructed and wasn't expecting to be active during the trade deadline. Then Daniels went down and it really changed everything. I guess it's a matter of whether you believe Danny or not.
Aside from the Marquis injury, reasons for the C's to move Perk:
-They know they can't sign him long term.
-They had an impressive record without him all year; proving he's not a "critical" piece to the team.
-They got by far the best player in the deal; JG.
So aside from the MD injury there were still several credible reasons to make the Perk deal.
I don't think you can say the C's got "by far" the best player in the deal.
What makes Jeff Green so good besides being drafted 5th? I just don't see it. I want to see it. I want him to be the best player in the deal. But, frankly, he's not good at much. He's been an increasingly poor shooter and rebounder and an ok defender. Since coming to boston he's shooting better (good!) but his rebounding has become truly pitiful for a 3/4 swing. And, according to his agent, he wants to get paid based on his 5th draft pick pedigree, not "potential 6th man/rotation glue guy" pedigree.
Frankly, right now Perkins is the best/most valuable player in the trade. I hope that "1st rounder from LAC" supplants him, but until then...