JEFF GREEN NOW A CELTIC
The Boston Celtics acquired forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic from the Oklahoma City Thunder for center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson.
What does it give the Boston Celtics
Interesting deal here for the Celtics. Green has a lot of talent but may not quite be a star, which should make him an ideal fit for Boston as a combo forward sixth man. He can hit the 3-pointer and rebound, and the Celts have needed a versatile guy like him since Marquis Daniels got injured. Daniels appears unlikely to return this season, so Green should play regularly backing up both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Krstic is an underrated all-round center who should provide solid depth at both ends of the court, especially considering how fragile Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal have been lately. They'll miss Perkins' defense and Robinson's energy, but Krstic's contact is expiring (which will give Boston flexibility in the summer) and Green is a player who could be a cornerstone for them once their aging core retires.
What does it give the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma gave up a good player in Green, but it's hard not to like this trade for them--for now and for the future. General Manager Sam Presti has a knack for pulling off underrated steals of deals, and this may end up being just that. While Perkins is coming off major knee surgery, he's a better fit for the Thunder than Green was (since he provides defense-first play and toughness under the basket). Moving Krstic's expiring contract was a good maneuver by Presti too, and Perkins has a deal that will be up after this season as well (providing financial flexibility in the summer). Meanwhile Robinson is an exciting player who makes a nice fit for the Thunder's young core, and he should provide a great spark off the pine. Ultimately, however, this move achieves an important developmental objective for Oklahoma City: freeing up minutes for emerging star big-man Serge Ibaka, who should now start at power forward and continue growing into a top-tier NBA post player. It also helps rookie center Cole Aldrich, who should see more minutes backing up at center.
Fantasy impact
