Insider speculates on Celtic trade (with good info on Perkins)

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Judging from today's column, it looks like Chad Ford was in Boston last night. The main subject is Jamal Crawford, with quotes from Crawford after last night's games, then a section praising Vin Baker, and finally this blurb about a potential Celtics trade. Nothing specific, but speculation that an expiring contract and a draft pick would be enough to convince the C's to pull the trigger. The most interesting tidbit is the assertion from "one Celtics source" that Kendrick has been so good in practice, the team is itching to get him off the injured list and give him a few minutes per game. That's GREAT news.

Anyway, I'm ready to pull the trigger. That Brevin Knight trade is sounding better and better. Two reasons - Knight would help at point guard, and Battie's minutes could go to Lafrentz. Am I the only one who thinks Raef needs to be on the floor more? He makes shots (not threes), rebounds and blocks shots. He's productive, even though they don't do a damn thing to get him involved (don't get me started... ). Anyway, I'm on board.

Mark


Don't be surprised if the Celtics make at least one trade before the February deadline. Right now the team is sitting on a $59.2 million cap number. That's about $2 million above the projected luxury-tax threshold for next season. The Celtics' new owners don't want to pay the luxury tax and forgo the rebates they'll get from the league. Last season the Celts got $14 million in rebates for staying under. They don't want to miss it again. 
The primary trade bait will be Tony Battie <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3176> . With the strong play of Mark Blount <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3222> , Baker and Raef LaFrentz <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3246> , Battie is becoming expendable. And, one Celtics source claims rookie Kendrick Perkins <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3730>  has been so good in practice the team is itching to get him off the injured list and give him at least a few minutes every night. 
If the Celtics can get an expiring contract and a draft pick for Battie, they'll probably pull the trigger.