Dowe for Powe

[Ortho Stice]

but, to continue this example, Perkins was much, much more valuable for us against the Lakers than Powe. Hypothetically: if Perkins gets injured for the rest of the season we're done, whereas if Powe gets injured, replacing him with the combination of Scalabrine and Big Baby wouldn't hurt us that much.

The issue at hand is how much Powe should be offered and his value on the open market. Last year, losing Rondo for a month would've killed us more than losing Pierce for the same length of time because of the replacement options. Certainly doesn't mean Rajon deserves a bigger contract.

I explained why Perkins is more valuable to the Celtics but forgot to mention why he's more valuable to almost all other teams in the league, which would affect his value in the open market, and it's mainly because legitimate centers are more valuable than undersized power forwards.

As for Powe's value on the open market, I can't say, since there are GMs stupid enough to pay Rashard Lewis 17 million a year. He will definitely demand the mid-level judging from other players that make that much.

[celticfan42487]

Perk is an average to above average Center

Powe is a good to very good backup PF

We can let Powe go for nothing right now and sub in Baby and still remain near the team we are now. We can't let Perk go and sub in anyone on our bench and except to come close to the team we are now.

Therein lies the value diffrence and it's the same for every team.

PF postion is stock full of talented athletic tall men. Powe has talent and athleticism. But he's only a opening day starter if your team is playing for a lottery ticket or has stars at 3/4 other positions.

[sully00]

The Clippers

Kaman and Camby.

Actually they are starting Tim Thomas and Kaman who is shooting 43%

Memphis

I admit to being a little too high on Marc Gasol.

Bobcats

They start Okafor and Wallace.

But they have been starting May or Dudley at the PF

Warriors

Harrington and Biedrins my friend.

I would rather have Perk at the 5 than Harringoton

Nets

Him and Josh Boone are pretty close.

Wizards

]You can't think Perk's better than Haywood or Jamison.

Haywood is out injured, so it is Etan Thomas. I don't think Haywood is any more useful than Perk anyhow

The issue isn't what Leon would be worth on the open market. That isn't going to be answered next offseason because he will be a restricted FA. The issue is what is it worth to keep Leon from that point. Outside of pg and center I just don't think you can pay 5 mil dollars for a reserve player.

Very rational point. It feels weird to argue this since I like Perk as a player, I just obviously don't see him as quite the player that you do. Reasonable minds often differ.

I really think Leon's scoring is going to be crucial this season. Offensively, we're not great. Rondo is still tentative and raw on that end. We're not sure what Ray will give us going forward. Then you factor in Perk and that's three players who are often non-factors in terms of scoring. Both TA and Powe will need to get points this year.

Somebody off that bench has got to produce offensively and Leon is the one guy who has shown he can do that consistently.

[floyd]

If Perk starts hitting that jumper he's been flashing with regularity we're all gonna start worrying about how we can resign him. The crazy put back for the and1 is sure fun to watch, but give me the shot blocker/rebounder that can hit the set shot any day.

Blount learned to be an effective offensive player so anything is possible. Let's just hope Perk doesn't forget how to rebound.

[celticfan42487]

Perk is signed throughout this team's run.

If we want we can re-sign him for 7/8mil per in a few years if he actually does start hiting the mid range jumper consistently.

[humblebum]

I've really come around to like Powe's game more and more this season. His offense is developing nicely, his hands are tremendous, and he continues to display a nose for the ball and knack for finding the blue sky. His defense has improved a bit from last season but he still pales in comparison defensively to Glen Davis, who's able to guard PF's and C's. Still, his offense off the bench is really key for this team.

But I have to defend Perkins here. He's possibly the most underrated player in the league at this point. Let me make this clear: Perkins is the defensive anchor of the best defensive team in the league. Not KG, not Rondo, not Pierce, Kendrick Perkins. If you take Perkins off of this team and insert Rasho Nesterovic, for example, we lose in the first round against Atlanta or second round in Cleveland at best. Powe was essentially a non-factor in either of those series'. Perkins is an intimidator in the paint, he's an exeptional man defender in the post, and his help defense is Tim Duncan-esque. I can truly and honestly state that Perkins is one of the top-5 post defenders in the NBA without batting an eye. Frankly, I'd pay Perkins 8 million this season and he'd still likely be underpaid. I love Powe's game, but he's no where near as important to the makeup of this team as Perk.