Perkins: "Keep a close eye on the Clippers"

[mkwest]

Kendrick Perkins recently sat down to have a SportsNation Chat and had something interesting to say about the Clippers. Props to ClipperTheorist for the heads up.

Amaan (New Jersey)


Last year, the Thunder in my opinion were lacking that veteran leadership with you in the picture for a whole season, this team is at a whole new level. The Thunder are the most dangerous team in the NBA. Who do you think will challenge you the most?

Kendrick Perkins (5:08 PM)

You always have to be careful of the young and upcoming teams. The Portland Trail Blazers. You also have to keep a close eye on the Clippers. Griffin, Gordon, Jordan. If I would have to pick any teams that people have to keep a close eye on, it's them. You can't take anything away from Dallas. They're the champions.

ESPN

[RiversideClips]

Perkins is right. If we can get a #3 (or Aminu will have to mature quickly) & get a PG, we will be fine. I think as soon as the Lockout is done we offer Mo & Draft Picks for Paul. If that doesn't work, we should take a look at trading for Nash (1-3 years max) or until we can get a true PG.
Nash may be a cheaper option ( at 37, he is still in great shape & will probably play until 40) and will help Bledsoe develop. Also w/ Nash, he has such great vision he will make our already entertaining team "Super High Flying"
Mo CAN't be our PG, no way; we will do nothing we him leading.

[scoobs07]

I could see something like Kaman/Mo/Bledsoe/Aminu/TWolves pick for DWill/Farmar/Petro...I'm sure DWill would like to come to L.A. and throw lobs to Blake and DJ and kick the ball out to EJ. The Nets might do this for the following reasons:
1. They dump two unwanted contracts in Farmar and Petro.
2. They get a 2012 lottery pick (still likely to be a high pick).
3. They get young building blocks in Bledsoe and Aminu.
4. They get a former all star PG in Mo, who's perimeter game would compliment Lopez/
5. They create 13 million in 2012 cap space with Kaman's expiring contract.

If that dont work out then I would try to get CP3 or even Nash. However, I would not give up that pick for Nash.

Clipps could create a big three with Blake/EJ/DWill. They would all get max contracts. DJ would make about 8-10 million while the rest of the team would gave to be made up of minimum contracts moving forward.

[RiversideClips]

I like Scoobs07's thoughts. Do you really think we can get DWILL? I think the Nets might want him for the new arena.

[mkwest]

I truly think that Deron Williams will be the hardest of the 3 big free-agents to acquire via trade. The only way that I see them moving him is if Dwight extends with Orlando and Deron lets it be known that he will walk next summer. The Nets will have enough money to re-sign Deron, Brook and bring in another max player. They're in a very good spot and would have to totally flop in bringing in talent to build a competitive team.

If they would go for that deal, then I'd gladly welcome it.

[scoobs07]

I'm pretty sure Blake and DWill share the same agent (Jeff Schwartz). From what I have seen, it seems like agents are a huge influence on their clients and they even get involved in trades/sign and trades. There are some cases where I think I have seen an agent design a trade between teams. I also know that DWill is from Texas and is a Christian/family man that probably wouldn't get too excited about Brooklyn/Jay Z/Russian owner. Texas is a lot closer to L.A. than New Jersey. Plus, he was teammates with Blake on th all star team and I remember them having great chemistry together. Put yourself in DWill's shoes, what NBA teams would be most desirable in terms of potentially starting a dynasty? Blake/EJ/DJ same like pretty good dudes to run with that would bring out his strengths (passing,shooting ofcourse) even more. I would be so confident about him resigning that I would even trade for him without and extend and trade. It's just a matter of the Nets willing to give him up, but as I said the agent could get involved in the process. As far as CP3 and Dwight Howard? CP3 seems to be determined to either stay in NO or go to NY. Dwight wants to come to L.A. (preferably the Lakers), but it just don't make any sense to me to get Dwight. He seems like he wouldn't be the greatest fit next to Blake. I rather pay DJ 5-10 million less and get 7/7/3 from him. Nor to mention the friendship between DJ and Blake.

[mkwest]

I'm pretty sure Blake and DWill share the same agent (Jeff Schwartz). From what I have seen, it seems like agents are a huge influence on their clients and they even get involved in trades/sign and trades. There are some cases where I think I have seen an agent design a trade between teams.

That is the connection that has me hopeful, especially if it goes to free-agency. D-Will fired his former agent Bob McClaren earlier this year, and Blake is the most attractive client of Schwartz outside of Williams. Having them both play on the same team in one of the biggest markets is a great thing for him.

I also know that DWill is from Texas and is a Christian/family man that probably wouldn't get too excited about Brooklyn/Jay Z/Russian owner. Texas is a lot closer to L.A. than New Jersey.

Are you insinuating that Jay-Z is the opposite (anti...) of that? If so, then I totally get where you're coming from.

Plus, he was teammates with Blake on th all star team and I remember them having great chemistry together. Put yourself in DWill's shoes, what NBA teams would be most desirable in terms of potentially starting a dynasty? Blake/EJ/DJ same like pretty good dudes to run with that would bring out his strengths (passing,shooting ofcourse) even more. I would be so confident about him resigning that I would even trade for him without and extend and trade. It's just a matter of the Nets willing to give him up, but as I said the agent could get involved in the process. As far as CP3 and Dwight Howard? CP3 seems to be determined to either stay in NO or go to NY. Dwight wants to come to L.A. (preferably the Lakers), but it just don't make any sense to me to get Dwight. He seems like he wouldn't be the greatest fit next to Blake. I rather pay DJ 5-10 million less and get 7/7/3 from him. Nor to mention the friendship between DJ and Blake.

Blake was one of the players that D-Will was most excited to play with in the All-Star game. They also hung out quite a bit over that weekend iirc. Here's the thing, Brooklyn has the opportunity to build a dynasty as well. Imagine them having Deron, Brook Lopez and signing Dwight Howard. That's pretty formidable in its own right and could contend with pretty much any other super power team in this league. Net fans may disagree, but I fully feel that Dwight is determining factor of if Deron stays with the Nets or leaves. Dwight has recently hinted that he'd like to play with Deron as well as Anthony Morrow of all people. He named a couple other guys (Chris Paul, Stephen Jackson & Monta Ellis). Two of those 5 players just so happen to currently play for the Nets. It may not mean anything, but I think it could be considered as dropping hints as to where he may be going as well as Orlando.

Dwight is like DJ times 20. He's a top 2-3 player in the game. I definitely think it could work, but I'd probably rather have one of the point guards and DJ as well. I'm not buying the whole Dwight to the Lakers thing. The only way he goes there is if Orlando trades him there. The Magic already "lost" one Superstar center to them and now they're going to trade their latest one? I don't think so. Plus, if they can't get out of the first round with Dwight, how are they going to do so with some combination of 2 of Bynum, Gasol and Odom? If they lose Dwight, they need young prospects, cap space and good draft picks. The Lakers deal doesn't really give them any of that. Bynum is young, but he's also making $15-16M/yr and has had knee injuries limit him the last 4 seasons. Also, sign & trades may not exist in the next CBA. Dwight has claimed he doesn't want to follow in Shaquille's footsteps, and forcing his way to the Lakers would be doing that very thing he doesn't want to do. So I just don't see it.

Paul made comments about joining up in New York with Melo and Stat. He and Melo have the same agent, and they are very good friends. I would not be surprised to see him go there. I think he has loyalty to the city of New Orleans, but the organization? Probably not as much. They may lose David West this offseason. They don't have an owner, and are at risk of moving as a franchise. The problem that the Knicks have depends on what the salary cap will be after all of the CBA negotiations are finalized. As it stands, he's probably taking a few mill less than the max. Melo and Stoudemire will be taking up $40M+ in 2012. They don't have the trade assets right now (Billups expiring, Fields and Shumpert?). The salary cap and how everything is done would have to drastically change or he's taking a sizeable paycut. Money talks.