<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Celtics are certainly pleased to have Kendrick Perkins under contract for five more years at a total of less than $22 million. And, no, the 21-year-old center doesn?t mind being a potential bargain. Perkins agreed to a four-year extension that, with incentives, could pay him up to $20 million. He will make $1,689,409 in 2006-07 under his existing deal. ?I don?t think it?s a bad deal,? Perkins said. ?I think this game has a lot to do with loyalty, and I feel like they?ve shown that to me already. The Celtics really could have turned their back on me when I came into training camp my first year at 313 (pounds). They could have just moved me on or done something then, but they gave me a chance and they worked with me. ?But as for now, I thought the number was fair. I won?t get into what a starting center is supposed to make in the NBA, but I know I?ve still got to fight for that spot. Nothing?s sure for me. We?ve got Theo (Ratliff), and he can play. And then you have to look at it that I didn?t play at all my first year. My second year I barely played. I?ve played really just half of a season. And then I?m only 21 years old. When you get to 26, that?s really when you start to hit your prime in basketball.? Perkins also is very much interested in working toward his prime. ?It?s not like I?m stopping here (and) I?m satisfied with this contract,? he said. ?It?s really just motivation to me to keep working. It?s a lot of stress off my shoulders. Now I can just go out and play basketball. I?m happy to be a Celtic. They?ve been loyal to me since I got here. Everything?s been good. I love the coaches. I love the organization. And this is not rehearsed. It?s really coming from my heart.? And seeing how Perkins brought up ?shoulders,? this might be a good time to note that he?s recovering well from surgery on his left one and doesn?t expect the dislocation problems to continue. ?I think it?s fine,? said Perkins, who received a call from Danny Ainge after the director of basketball operations found out the center had scrimmaged twice against orders. ?I don?t even worry about it anymore.? He also won?t be babying his teammates. Ainge and the coaches are asking Perkins to take on a stronger leadership role. ?I think he?s even exceeded the expectations we had for him as a young player, just from where he?s come to this day,? Ainge said. ?He?s proven he?s an NBA center.?</div> Source
The front court has imprvoed drastically compared to last year. And signing Perkins to an extension means we just got better. Congrats to Perk.
I haven't watched Perkins muched, but I saw a few games last year of him in action. If he can stay out of foul trouble, he should be a very solid player in this league. His defense with his shot blocking ability and rebounding will compliment Al's game if he's able to translate and develop his offensive skills in the NBA.
I don't want to see Perk playing too much offense actually. I want him focused on why he got an extension, and that's shot blocking and board work. Aside from him, this team's best rebounder is Paul Pierce, and that's not good enough. Perk does need to keep his hands to himself, but these NBA refs have not helped him out at all, the way they have the scoring youngsters. It seems if you're an offense-minded young player, the refs are there to make your day, and that's why Perk and Jeff have had such a hard time staying in games, because they get no such protections, it actually seems they get the exact opposite in the way of attention.
