Should Perkins Be Extended?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Often times the calendar, not the player, dictates off-the-court action. That may well be the case for the Celtics, now that they have locked up Paul Pierce through at least 2010 (he has an option for 2010-11, so he theoretically is their property only for the next four years). Kendrick Perkins, who is beginning his fourth season, could be next on the contract extension agenda.

The team and Perkins have until the end of October to see if they can reach an agreement. If they cannot, Perkins would become a restricted free agent after this season, meaning the Celtics could match any offer.

To date there have been only cursory (and cordial) negotiations between the Celtics and Perkins's agent, Bob Myers. Celtics hoops boss Danny Ainge and general manager Chris Wallace talked with Myers at the recent summer league in Las Vegas and Myers said last week that there is unlikely to be any resolution until probably October. Ainge agreed.

``There's no real sense of urgency," Ainge said. ``He's a young player. It may come down to him wanting to take a chance at maximizing his value or perhaps wanting some security. But it's going to have to be something we like and it's going to have to be something he likes, and that isn't always the easiest thing to do."

Everyone is in standby mode now because Perkins is not remotely seen as a guy who is going to command a huge deal (like his draft classmates LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh), so guys like him tend to be back-burner fellows. Additionally, both sides want to make sure Perkins's left shoulder, which was operated on the last week of May, is fully mended. He had two shoulder dislocations within four months.</div>

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