Just before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Boston Celtics agreed to ship center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for swingman Jeff Green and big man Nenad Krstic, two league sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford on Thursday.
Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Wednesday that Perkins is out at least a week after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
It's a homecoming of sorts for Green. He was selected by the Celtics in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2007 draft. But he was traded with Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West to then Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen and Glen Davis.
The Celtics' pursuit of a perimeter player intensified when it became apparent that Marquis Daniels might miss the rest of the season with a spinal injury.
The Thunder also made a trade sending Morris Peterson to Charlotte, but it was unclear if that was part of a three-way deal between the Thunder, Celtics and Bobcats.
Green is averaging 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds this season as the third option for the Thunder behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. In his third season in the league, he has averaged 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
The deal gives the Thunder the big man that they've been looking for all year. Perkins is coming off knee surgery and has played just 12 games, but the Thunder have felt for a while that they need a veteran big man to truly compete with the Spurs, Mavs and Lakers in the West.
The deal also gives the Thunder something for Green, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer. Green had rejected a contract extension offer from the Thunder earlier this year.
For the Celtics, they take a big risk that their lone big men -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett -- can lead them. But with O'Neal out with an Achilles injury, this is a very odd play for the Celtics who are trying to win a championship.
Green is a young talent who can play both the three and the four and could be part of a longer rebuilding strategy. Krstic is an offensive talent down low, but isn't known as a rebounder or a tough defender.
Highly coveted free agent Troy Murphy is signing with the Boston Celtics.
Murphy told ESPN.com via e-mail that he will join the Celtics after spending much of the past 48 hours agonizing between Boston and the Miami Heat. Murphy reached terms of a buyout with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Murphy also received recruiting pitches this week from Portland, New York and Orlando, sources said, but the 6-foot-10 forward was always determined to sign with a top contender in anticipation of making the first deep playoff run of his career. Murphy has played in more games (639) than any other active player without appearing in the playoffs.
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It's a homecoming of sorts for Green. He was selected by the Celtics in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2007 draft. But he was traded with Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West to then Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen and Glen Davis.
The Celtics' pursuit of a perimeter player intensified when it became apparent that Marquis Daniels might miss the rest of the season with a spinal injury.
The Thunder also made a trade sending Morris Peterson to Charlotte, but it was unclear if that was part of a three-way deal between the Thunder, Celtics and Bobcats.
Green is averaging 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds this season as the third option for the Thunder behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. In his third season in the league, he has averaged 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
The deal gives the Thunder the big man that they've been looking for all year. Perkins is coming off knee surgery and has played just 12 games, but the Thunder have felt for a while that they need a veteran big man to truly compete with the Spurs, Mavs and Lakers in the West.
The deal also gives the Thunder something for Green, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer. Green had rejected a contract extension offer from the Thunder earlier this year.
For the Celtics, they take a big risk that their lone big men -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett -- can lead them. But with O'Neal out with an Achilles injury, this is a very odd play for the Celtics who are trying to win a championship.
Green is a young talent who can play both the three and the four and could be part of a longer rebuilding strategy. Krstic is an offensive talent down low, but isn't known as a rebounder or a tough defender.
WHAT
THE
FUCK
Murphy told ESPN.com via e-mail that he will join the Celtics after spending much of the past 48 hours agonizing between Boston and the Miami Heat. Murphy reached terms of a buyout with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Murphy also received recruiting pitches this week from Portland, New York and Orlando, sources said, but the 6-foot-10 forward was always determined to sign with a top contender in anticipation of making the first deep playoff run of his career. Murphy has played in more games (639) than any other active player without appearing in the playoffs.
Spurs with a clinched playoff spot and soon division and home court through the playoffs. WOOOO!!!