Perkins needs to stop talking.

[2short]

hidden amongst his gems are a rough quote he gave when injured and shaq and the big 4 were tearing up the league
"i'm the starter"

love his work ethic but he'd be 3rd string center behind the oneills

I find that just amazing.  Shaq and JO are on the verge of retirement, yet Perkins would be third string behind them?

Folks just want to bash Perkins. 

Not bashing him just realistic, yes they are on the verge of retiring and maybe best for team if perk started.  But no way can perk play the all around game that jermaine can.  As far as shaq you can't see he didn't look like a near all star at beginning of year.
think of it this way age isn't an issue and all three guys are trying out for a team, usa basketball lets say...would perk be the first center? nope

[StartOrien]

I think the Thunder could clearly use any amount/kind of mental toughness it could take right now.

Nothing came of it, but was there a play that could possibly  sums up last nights game better then Durants 40 foot pull up 3 with 2.5 seconds left getting blocked by Shawn Marion and then Jason Kidd having the smarts to immediately call a timeout upon catching the ball with .7 seconds left?

[PortCelt]

I hate to pile on but ...

http://hoopspeak.com/2011/05/perkins-killing-thunder-spacing-offense/

[Finkelskyhook]

Since KP no longer wears green its Thunder business...if he still wore green i would feel more incline to give an opinion.

ditto

[CelticG1]

I love it just because Perk is so uncensored. It's rare that you hear a guy talk so open and just say what's on his mind. I don't think he is putting himself out there to get noticed. I think someone asks him a question and he just says exactly what he thinks. He says him and chandler hate each other and Chandler says that he respects Perk and has no ill will toward him. From a fans perspective it's nice to hear Perk be real.

You guys aren't sick of star players fawning over other players? I can't stand it. I love Rondo coming out and just saying I'm the best point guard or that he's not impressed with someone. Maybe he's wrong but he is just saying what he thinks. How can you not love that stuff?

[European NBA fan]

I love it just because Perk is so uncensored. It's rare that you hear a guy talk so open and just say what's on his mind. I don't think he is putting himself out there to get noticed. I think someone asks him a question and he just says exactly what he thinks. He says him and chandler hate each other and Chandler says that he respects Perk and has no ill will toward him. From a fans perspective it's nice to hear Perk be real.

You guys aren't sick of star players fawning over other players? I can't stand it. I love Rondo coming out and just saying I'm the best point guard or that he's not impressed with someone. Maybe he's wrong but he is just saying what he thinks. How can you not love that stuff?

I agree. In my opinion it isn't talking trash, just Perk unfiltered. And you need players like that in the league.

[Marcus13]

His teammates in Boston and Oklahoma City love it, so I don't see the issue

[LarBrd33]

I think with the Thunder on the brink of defeat, the honeymoon might be over with Perkins.  His "hidden contributions" don't look so good when the team aint winning.  At some point they will start realizing they have a injury prone big man who averages 5 points and 4 rebounds locked up for 35 million over 4 years. 

A lot of Perk's hall-of-fame supporters might end up eating crow if the Thunder end up using the amnesty rule on the big guy. 

[Chris]

I think with the Thunder on the brink of defeat, the honeymoon might be over with Perkins.  His "hidden contributions" don't look so good when the team aint winning.  At some point they will start realizing they have a injury prone big man who averages 5 points and 4 rebounds locked up for 35 million over 4 years. 

A lot of Perk's hall-of-fame supporters might end up eating crow if the Thunder end up using the amnesty rule on the big guy. 

Eh, I think they are very happy with what Perk has brought to the team.  Yes, he is not 100%, and that has effected his play.  And yes, he will never be a threat offensively. 

However, he has brought a toughness and leadership that they desperately needed, and has solidified their starting lineup.

They have simply hit the wall right now.  This was not a championship team.  They are still incredibly young.  Not just the stars, but also guys like Ibaka have a lot to learn. 

More importantly though, they still are learning to play with each other.  Westbrook and Durant are incredible talents, but they still do not know how to make each other better.  That is going to come with time.  And, once those guys make that next step, and Ibaka continues to progress into the player he can be, they are going to be glad to have Perkins locked up in the middle.

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

[MBunge]

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

Yes, if everybody else on the team plays well, Perk won't be a major problem.  But for all the talk of Perk's toughness and defense, he's essentially Erick Dampier so far through his career when it comes to on-court production.

Mike

[clover]

I think with the Thunder on the brink of defeat, the honeymoon might be over with Perkins.  His "hidden contributions" don't look so good when the team aint winning.  At some point they will start realizing they have a injury prone big man who averages 5 points and 4 rebounds locked up for 35 million over 4 years. 

A lot of Perk's hall-of-fame supporters might end up eating crow if the Thunder end up using the amnesty rule on the big guy. 

Eh, I think they are very happy with what Perk has brought to the team.  Yes, he is not 100%, and that has effected his play.  And yes, he will never be a threat offensively. 

However, he has brought a toughness and leadership that they desperately needed, and has solidified their starting lineup.

They have simply hit the wall right now.  This was not a championship team.  They are still incredibly young.  Not just the stars, but also guys like Ibaka have a lot to learn. 

More importantly though, they still are learning to play with each other.  Westbrook and Durant are incredible talents, but they still do not know how to make each other better.  That is going to come with time.  And, once those guys make that next step, and Ibaka continues to progress into the player he can be, they are going to be glad to have Perkins locked up in the middle.

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

Yep, I'm sure they're glad for the toughness he's brought and the playoff progress they've made this year.  But I also bet Sam's just a little nervous to see Perk's recovery from surgery continue next year--and for him to see that Perk will be able to contribute at a higher level over the next four years.

[BballTim]

I think with the Thunder on the brink of defeat, the honeymoon might be over with Perkins.  His "hidden contributions" don't look so good when the team aint winning.  At some point they will start realizing they have a injury prone big man who averages 5 points and 4 rebounds locked up for 35 million over 4 years. 

A lot of Perk's hall-of-fame supporters might end up eating crow if the Thunder end up using the amnesty rule on the big guy. 

  Like most professional athletes, Perk's first year back from a serious knee injury is nothing to write home about. I'm guessing that they realize that he was more than a 5 and 4 guy before the injury and he'll be more than that again when he's healthier.

  If they do cut him, though, he's pretty high on my list of offseason acquisitions.

[Chris]

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

Yes, if everybody else on the team plays well, Perk won't be a major problem.  But for all the talk of Perk's toughness and defense, he's essentially Erick Dampier so far through his career when it comes to on-court production.

Mike

Well, in his prime, Dampier was a very good center, and Perk is a significantly better defensive player.  

The thing about the Thunder is that they have their core.  They don't need to make any more big moves, they only need to lock up Westbrook and Harden, and then just grow together.  They were in a very different position than the C's, who do not have their core in place, and who really need to keep cap flexibility to add some stars around Rondo and Pierce going forward.  

So, locking up Perk doesn't really hurt OKC's ability to get better.  Yes, they could have had some more cap space this summer, but I don't know if they could have gotten anyone better for it (and wouldn't have gotten anyone better for the kind of money they paid Perkins, which was a bargain compared to open market value).  Chandler will be locked up by Dallas, Memphis will match on Gasol, and while Nene may not even opt out, even if he did, they may not have been able to afford him.  

Perk on the other hand fits in very well with that they need at that position, and he will only get better as he continues to recover.  

[CelticG1]

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

Yes, if everybody else on the team plays well, Perk won't be a major problem.  But for all the talk of Perk's toughness and defense, he's essentially Erick Dampier so far through his career when it comes to on-court production.

Mike

Perk on the other hand fits in very well with that they need at that position, and he will only get better as he continues to recover.  

I think this remains to be seen. In theory his "toughness" and "leadership" may help but I don't know if we've seen that yet. Also as a semi long term building block I think Perk is a pretty big gamble even without his most recent injuries but those injuries certainly magnify that

[Chris]

To have him locked up along with their core of stars is a going to be a real asset in having this team grow together. 

Yes, if everybody else on the team plays well, Perk won't be a major problem.  But for all the talk of Perk's toughness and defense, he's essentially Erick Dampier so far through his career when it comes to on-court production.

Mike

Perk on the other hand fits in very well with that they need at that position, and he will only get better as he continues to recover.  

I think this remains to be seen. In theory his "toughness" and "leadership" may help but I don't know if we've seen that yet. Also as a semi long term building block I think Perk is a pretty big gamble even without his most recent injuries but those injuries certainly magnify that

Why is he such a big gamble, when they already have their core in place?  You aren't going to get a better player for less money.  And while he has dealt with some injuries, he also has returned incredibly quickly from all of them, and has missed very few games.