BOSTON – Kendrick Perkins isn’t minding his own business.
Not when it comes to the place he spent a majority of his career and a former teammate with whom he remains close.
Will Rajon Rondo – who, with Perkins, helped the Celtics win the 2008 title – re-sign with Boston as a free agent this summer?
“He should,” said Perkin, now with the Thunder. “He should. I think it’s a great place for him. I think he wanna stay here. We talk on the regular. I think he should stay. If I was him, I would stay.”
But didn’t you leave?
Said Perkins, who was traded to Oklahoma City in 2011: “I didn’t have a choice.”
There’s always a chance Rondo won’t either. He remains the constant subject of trade rumors, and one report even said Rondo asked out this summer. (He denied it, at least for now.)
And if Rondo finishes the season with Boston, he’ll still have plenty of suitors – whether it’s the Lakers or Knicks or anyone else.
But Boston has its advantages. Celtics president Danny Ainge seems amenable to giving Rondo a max contract, and Rondo’s supporting cast is improving.
Perkins has noticed Boston’s emerging talent – specifically pointing out Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green and “young kid – I can’t pronounce it – with the long hair.” That’d be Kelly Olynyk, and the Celtics also have Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, James Young, Tyler Zeller. Maybe a 28-year-old Rondo wants to win sooner than Boston can, but this team has potential.
Though players would be wary of interfering with someone else’s contract negotiations, Perkins didn’t hesitate to give his opinion here. Maybe that’s just Perkins being outspoken, or maybe frequent conversations with Rondo have given him insight in the point guard’s thinking.
Either way, the expectation for Rondo – and pressure on him – to stay in Boston increases ever so slightly.