I'm glad we let Perk go

[CelticG1]

Also, I think Perk would look a lot better if he was playing in our system.  I understand those who say he is overpaid, but we could definitely use him.

We could also really use Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison, Nazr Mohammed, Nenad Krstic and even JO.

At this point I really don't know how much more Perk would offer up than those guys

[GreenFaith1819]

I remember the debates soon after "The Trade" and many that favored the trade assumed that time would tell.  Well time has told and the only reason that this trade is not going down as a steal by Boston is that Green had his heart problems.

Perk is not nearly as good as OKC thought.  I know that is speculation because I can't know that but I think it is a fair assumption.  DA gauged Perk's talent accurately, Presti didn't.  The main thing a GM is supposed to do is gauge talent.  In terms of Green, no one could have known about the heart problem.  Krystic going to Russia and the loss in value of the pick were both calculated risks that DA made and lost.

So best case we could have had Green and Krystic this year and a high pick someday.  Worst case (which is pretty much how it ended up) we get Green next year probably and a not so hot pick.  Oh and don't forget, we saved Nate's salary for 1.5 years.

Perk would probably be a back-up center on our team this year and if he did "start", he would be more ceremonial because he would still have a lesser role than Bass.  As a back-up yeah, he would probably be better than Steisma or Hollins.

I just don't see how you can criticize DA for this trade.

For your 1st underlined portion - I just believe that OKC has run into a buzzsaw vs the Spurs. San Antonio has peaked at the right time, Westbrook is getting exposed as a defender and distributor (Durant too), and now all of a sudden you have a thread blaming OKC's downfall on Kendrick Perkins.

Part of OKC's problems right now can be placed squarely on the coach's lap, IMO.

As for the 2nd underlined - I've never blamed or criticized DA for the trade. I did hate it, but when it happened I almost immediately saw why DA needed to do it.

We needed a SF backup for Paul who had been injured. Even further it's been discussed on here how salary-wise it was a good move. I cannot disagree with that.

But the premise of this thread, which seems to place all the blame for OKC's recent woes on Perk -  I don't agree with at all. That's just me.

Let's all ask ourselves this question:

If OKC would've won last night, would this thread be here?

[Mr October]

Perkins was an excellent role player on the Celtics title team. And the C's needed him.

But, his value has dropped. His big worth & unique skill set is playing post defense against Bynum and Howard. $9 million per year is a big price tag for a defensive specialist like that.

I'd gladly take him back in Boston but not for anything above $6 mil.

[GreenFaith1819]

Perkins was an excellent role player on the Celtics title team. And the C's needed him.

But, his value has dropped. His big worth & unique skill set is playing post defense against Bynum and Howard. $9 million per year is a big price tag for a defensive specialist like that.

I'd gladly take him back in Boston but not for anything above $6 mil.

This.

[fairweatherfan]

I loved Perk when he was here and I'm glad he got his contract, but I'm glad that contract isn't with us.

And I do think he was an important part of our two big runs, but he's not the same player at this point.  Dude blew out his knee, lost a ton of weight (probably to take stress off the knee) and his shoulder isn't getting any better.  That's a lot for an already limited big man to handle and stay as effective.  It doesn't diminish what Perk contributed here to say he doesn't seem like the same caliber player any more.

[D.o.s.]

I remember the debates soon after "The Trade" and many that favored the trade assumed that time would tell.  Well time has told and the only reason that this trade is not going down as a steal by Boston is that Green had his heart problems.

Perk is not nearly as good as OKC thought.  I know that is speculation because I can't know that but I think it is a fair assumption.  DA gauged Perk's talent accurately, Presti didn't.  The main thing a GM is supposed to do is gauge talent.  In terms of Green, no one could have known about the heart problem.  Krystic going to Russia and the loss in value of the pick were both calculated risks that DA made and lost.

So best case we could have had Green and Krystic this year and a high pick someday.  Worst case (which is pretty much how it ended up) we get Green next year probably and a not so hot pick.  Oh and don't forget, we saved Nate's salary for 1.5 years.

Perk would probably be a back-up center on our team this year and if he did "start", he would be more ceremonial because he would still have a lesser role than Bass.  As a back-up yeah, he would probably be better than Steisma or Hollins.

I just don't see how you can criticize DA for this trade.

Not a big Sonics/Thunder fan are you? When they moved Jeff Green (who was their third leading scorer behind Westbrook and Durant at the time) they were able to give Ibaka and Harden way more minutes--and the effect was immediate.

[mainevent]

Remember, we traded Perk & Nate for Jeff Green because the Magic were starting to self-destruct and the Heat weren't going to beat us in the low block*.

And believe it or not we could REALLY use Jeff Green right about now.

And believe it or not we could REALLY use Perkins right about now as well.

Lol, yeah we could REALLY use the 5 xtra fouls, which is all of what he would have to offer!

[mctyson]

I feel bad for Perkins because he may not receive the bulk of the $36M he was extended for by OKC.

Amnestied players get paid their full contract, so don't feel too badly for him.

Really?  That's a great deal then.  I rescind my empathy.

[mainevent]

Perk probably does have a bad matchup against SA but the thing that stands out to me the most is how inept he is on offense. He couldn't even post up and finish against Boris Diaw! They were throwing him perfect passes downlow and he either traveled or came up empty every single time. I have never seen a big man travel nearly every time he receives the ball down low like Perk does.

To be fair to Perk, he's not exactly playing with Magic Johnson, either .

I love Russell Westbrook as a player, but he isn't exactly the best distributor in the game.

I'd bet that a certain Green-clad PG from the East could get Perk some GOOD looks around the basket.......hmmmmmm

I have a feeling that even if Rondo dropped the perfect pass into Perks lap he would travel anyway lol

To be fair to Perk....how many times did you see THAT happen when he was in BOS?

Sure Perk doesn't have the best hands, but when you are playing with a PG that is simply not known as a great passer that exacerbates things.

As Roy stated in his second para above - if Perk was playing IN BOS - he'd look a lot better...imagine KG AND Rondo looking for him down low...imagine Paul giving him his passes..even Ray would give him good looks.

Perfect example - look at this famous clip from Ray Allen as he obliterates LA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RciLe9SUqVM

Now, how many of those Ray Allen bombs were set by a pick from Perk? At least two?

Yep...OKC/Perk is getting exposed right now, but Perk would look better in Green again if BOS could somehow swing that affordably.

Sorry, but every time Perk got the ball I'd wince. Either the extra slow windup would get slapped away, or he'd travel. Let's not even get into the moving screens per game. Perk's claim to fame was the intimidation factor. The scowl. He was good at defense, defending the pick and roll and enforcing the no layup rule. Offense...Please don't talk to me about Perk on offense. It's impossible to do if you wish to be taken seriously. I would NOT want Perk back in green for ANY amount over the league minimum. Unlike a lot of you I watched mostly all Thunder games this season and Perk was a definite non-factor, even on the defensive end of the court. Hey, he's still a hell of a foul contester!

[mctyson]

Could you please post a link to these "advanced metrics"...?

Here are Hollinger's stats for centers, have to go to page 2 for Perkins' PER, which is 55th out of 58:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?position=c&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fposition%3dc

Here are his advanced stats on Basketball Reference:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/perkike01.html

You can scroll down to see players with similar careers based on Win-Shares.  These players include Scot Pollard, Jamal Magloire, and Andris Biedrins.

If you look at his Win-Shares by season, you will see that he trended upward to reach 6 by our championship season, stayed around there until 2011, when it plummeted to 1.

I will reintroduce my empathy for Perkins because it is clear that his knee injury completely changed his production, since that was the only change in him from 2010 to 2011.

[SHAQATTACK]

Perk was our enforcer.  He was the muscle behind KG attitude .   We don't have an enforcer anymore ... our rebounding is league worst I believe.  Other than KG no big 's OFfense. 

It is truely amazing we can compete at all with the Best teams.

An old heathy Shaq and Perk back and we would be  sitting pretty.   

[GreenFaith1819]

Perk probably does have a bad matchup against SA but the thing that stands out to me the most is how inept he is on offense. He couldn't even post up and finish against Boris Diaw! They were throwing him perfect passes downlow and he either traveled or came up empty every single time. I have never seen a big man travel nearly every time he receives the ball down low like Perk does.

To be fair to Perk, he's not exactly playing with Magic Johnson, either .

I love Russell Westbrook as a player, but he isn't exactly the best distributor in the game.

I'd bet that a certain Green-clad PG from the East could get Perk some GOOD looks around the basket.......hmmmmmm

I have a feeling that even if Rondo dropped the perfect pass into Perks lap he would travel anyway lol

To be fair to Perk....how many times did you see THAT happen when he was in BOS?

Sure Perk doesn't have the best hands, but when you are playing with a PG that is simply not known as a great passer that exacerbates things.

As Roy stated in his second para above - if Perk was playing IN BOS - he'd look a lot better...imagine KG AND Rondo looking for him down low...imagine Paul giving him his passes..even Ray would give him good looks.

Perfect example - look at this famous clip from Ray Allen as he obliterates LA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RciLe9SUqVM

Now, how many of those Ray Allen bombs were set by a pick from Perk? At least two?

Yep...OKC/Perk is getting exposed right now, but Perk would look better in Green again if BOS could somehow swing that affordably.

Sorry, but every time Perk got the ball I'd wince. Either the extra slow windup would get slapped away, or he'd travel. Let's not even get into the moving screens per game. Perk's claim to fame was the intimidation factor. The scowl. He was good at defense, defending the pick and roll and enforcing the no layup rule. Offense...Please don't talk to me about Perk on offense. It's impossible to do if you wish to be taken seriously. I would NOT want Perk back in green for ANY amount over the league minimum. Unlike a lot of you I watched mostly all Thunder games this season and Perk was a definite non-factor, even on the defensive end of the court. Hey, he's still a hell of a foul contester!

For the underlined and boldened portion, I am guessing that many OKC fans would be able to justify his worth to their team.

Thank you for basically stating what Kendrick Perkin's strengths are.

Even while in BOS, he was NEVER looked at as an offensive option. Most of us know this is true. he almost always got his points off of feeds from KG, Paul, Ray or Rondo.

Even with that, I still wonder how he managed 12 pts, 12 rebs and 3 blocks during that CHI series in 08-09 - the same one where KG and Powe went down? The man was scoring from the post, putbacks, you name it.

Perk and Rondo basically carried us that series. CHI had no answers for either.

And go ask Bynum and Pau about Perk...I'd bet that they would tell you that he had a sizeable role in limiting their production last round.

[vinnie]

I remember the debates soon after "The Trade" and many that favored the trade assumed that time would tell.  Well time has told and the only reason that this trade is not going down as a steal by Boston is that Green had his heart problems.

Perk is not nearly as good as OKC thought.  I know that is speculation because I can't know that but I think it is a fair assumption.  DA gauged Perk's talent accurately, Presti didn't.  The main thing a GM is supposed to do is gauge talent.  In terms of Green, no one could have known about the heart problem.  Krystic going to Russia and the loss in value of the pick were both calculated risks that DA made and lost.

So best case we could have had Green and Krystic this year and a high pick someday.  Worst case (which is pretty much how it ended up) we get Green next year probably and a not so hot pick.  Oh and don't forget, we saved Nate's salary for 1.5 years.

Perk would probably be a back-up center on our team this year and if he did "start", he would be more ceremonial because he would still have a lesser role than Bass.  As a back-up yeah, he would probably be better than Steisma or Hollins.

I just don't see how you can criticize DA for this trade.

I kind of remember Jeff Green sucking when he played last year, but maybe that is just me.

And this line really gets me, "As a back-up yeah, he would probably be better than Steisma or Hollins." Ryan Hollins is one of the worst 10 players in the NBA and Greg Stiemsma blocks shots. To put Perk in this category is beyond absurd.

[Roy H.]

Also, I think Perk would look a lot better if he was playing in our system.  I understand those who say he is overpaid, but we could definitely use him.

We could also really use Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison, Nazr Mohammed, Nenad Krstic and even JO.

At this point I really don't know how much more Perk would offer up than those guys

I'll take the guy who won a championship here, and was part the starting lineup that never lost a playoff series together.

[guava_wrench]

OKC got Perk to beat the Lakers. Mission accomplished.