Scott Cordischi On Sports: Friday Edition

Friday, February 25, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

What in the name of Red Auerbach just happened? While many of us expected Danny Ainge and the Celtics to make some type of move prior to Thursday’s NBA trading deadline, did anyone see this coming?

In case you missed it, the Celtics sent center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City in exchange for small forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic and the LA Clippers first round draft pick in 2012 which is conditionally protected if it falls within the top 10.

Boston also shipped swingman Marquis Daniels to Sacramento for cash considerations and sent forward Luke Harangody and center Semih Erden to Cleveland for a second round pick. The latter moves free up roster spots for Boston to sign veteran free agent players.

The confusing part about the deal is sending Perkins away when Boston is already thin up front due to injuries to all of their big men. Perk is a guy that gave Boston a distinct advantage at the center spot over Eastern Conference rival Miami and allowed the Celtics to play Orlando Howard man to man without the need of constant double teams.

It is also widely believed that had Boston had a healthy Kendrick Perkins for game 7 of the NBA Finals last year that they would have won the title and not the Los Angeles Lakers. We’ll never know.

So why, exactly, did Danny Ainge make such bold moves? First, the addition of the talented Jeff Green gives them needed depth at the 3-spot for Paul Pierce. Green can also play the power forward position on occasion and is obviously someone Ainge likes given that he drafted him 5th overall in the 2007 NBA draft before trading him to Seattle in the Ray Allen deal.

Krstic isn’t the physical presence defensively or on the backboards that Perkins is, but he’s a more polished offensive player around the basket.

It may also be safe to assume that the Celtics may not have been leaning toward signing Perkins to the contract that he wanted this offseason so getting something for him now seemed like a good idea.

This certainly changes the dynamic of this ballclub heading down the stretch in the regular season with an eye towards the playoffs. The health of Shaquille O’Neal now becomes an even bigger factor as Boston will likely need him healthy if they are going to make a run at banner 18.

-Marshon Brooks could not be having a better senior season than he is at PC. He is a lock to be drafted in the first round of the June NBA draft but will have to show NBA scouts that he can defend if he really wants to be an decent player at the next level.

-I didn’t see Jimmy Walker play but from those who saw both him and Brooks, they all say that Walker was better.

-First Brian Cashman calls out Derek Jeter in contract negotiations during the offseason and now Hank Steinbrenner takes a shot at him for being preoccupied with building his new mansion. What’s next? Trading him to the Red Sox?

-WEEI’s Dale Arnold deserved a better fate than the one given to him by station management.

-Then again, what makes the radio biz any different from the rest of the economy?

-Don’t look now but Rhody may be heading to the NIT again this year which, unlike years past, would be a good accomplishment for this team.

-Brown’s Sean McGonagill is a lock for Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

-I can’t believe that Tiger Woods is just an average guy on the PGA Tour now even given his troubles off the course.

-With Carmello Anthony going to the Knicks, the power in the NBA is starting to shift to the East.

-Because I’m a Syracuse grad I will always be grateful for Anthony, but his demanding to be traded from Denver was no better than LeBron James’ charade in picking Miami last offseason.

-My money is on ABC’s Bachelor Brad Womack picking the cute blond from North Carolina in the end.

-Yes, I admit it! I watch the show.

-Not that there’s anything wrong with that!