Thunder Not Interested in Amnestying Perkins

[rondohondo]

May 19, 2013

Kendrick Perkins sat down for his season-ending interview with reporters Thursday and was told, to his surprise, that he was sweating.

“Well I just left out of Sam’s office so I might be sweating,” Perkins said of his exit interview with Thunder general manager Sam Presti.

“That was a joke,” Perkins immediately added.

The Thunder’s polarizing center has nothing to worry about.

Two days later, Presti essentially put an end to the rampant speculation that Perkins would possibly be waived under the NBA’s amnesty clause.

“We just haven’t considered using the provision,” Presti said. “I wouldn’t necessarily directly attribute that to any player on our team. Every team looks at the amnesty provision different based on their different circumstances. But it’s not something that we’ve really explored.”

via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9u7ZDLoH-I

[dasani]

Not surprised really.

[hpantazo]

Doesn't sound like a guarantee though. Presti's statement leaves plenty of wiggle room to eventually amnesty Perk if he wants to.

[Fafnir]

Doesn't sound like a guarantee though. Presti's statement leaves plenty of wiggle room to eventually amnesty Perk if he wants to.

Sure he could if he has other moves lined to make that require the luxury tax savings that amnestying Perkins would grant them.

But it just doesn't seem likely, they need a banger to play C for 20 mins a game no matter what and Perkins is a sunk cost now. Saving luxury tax dollars shouldn't cause you to downgrade your team from Perkins to a veteran's minimum caliber center.

[CoachBo]

A fool and their money, Presti ...

[Evantime34]

That doesn't mean they wouldn't trade him.

[CelticConcourse]

Note that he didn't make any guarantees

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The fact that they have a top 15 pick would suggest to me that while they may not amnesty him, they can however add him with the pick for a trade to get someone.

[Who]

The fact that they have a top 15 pick would suggest to me that while they may not amnesty him, they can however add him with the pick for a trade to get someone.

Or draft someone like Steven Adams and train that player up behind Perk. Let him take Perk's place in the starting lineup in two year's time to balance the books better.

I imagine Gortat would be their top target if they trade the pick and Perk.

[Boris Badenov]

The fact that they have a top 15 pick would suggest to me that while they may not amnesty him, they can however add him with the pick for a trade to get someone.

Or draft someone like Steven Adams and train that player up behind Perk. Let him take Perk's place in the starting lineup in two year's time to balance the books better.

Given where they're drafting and their need for short-term help as well as long-term help, I could see them being very interested in Dieng or Plumlee too, or maybe even Withey. I think those guys will be able to give them more, immediately, cheaply and for 4 years guaranteed, than any big guy they are likely to acquire via trade.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The fact that they have a top 15 pick would suggest to me that while they may not amnesty him, they can however add him with the pick for a trade to get someone.

Or draft someone like Steven Adams and train that player up behind Perk. Let him take Perk's place in the starting lineup in two year's time to balance the books better.

I imagine Gortat would be their top target if they trade the pick and Perk.

Man, Gortat will help them tremendously. And Phoenix I think won't mind that deal as well.

[Boris Badenov]

The fact that they have a top 15 pick would suggest to me that while they may not amnesty him, they can however add him with the pick for a trade to get someone.

Or draft someone like Steven Adams and train that player up behind Perk. Let him take Perk's place in the starting lineup in two year's time to balance the books better.

I imagine Gortat would be their top target if they trade the pick and Perk.

Man, Gortat will help them tremendously. And Phoenix I think won't mind that deal as well.

The downside is that Gortat's contract is up at the end of next year, which puts them back in the position of having to shell out substantial money (assuming they want to keep him).

From a cost perspective I think drafting a rookie C is more appealing, particularly since there are so many plausibly NBA-ready guys in their range this year.