Globe's Ryan: Contract Differences Drove C's Perkins Trade

The Boston Celtics lost to the Denver Nuggets 89-75 in Denver Thursday night, but the big news Thursday was made off the court.

In a deal closed just ahead of the trade deadline, the Celtics traded center Kendrick Perkins and backup guard Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for center Nenad Krstic and forward Jeff Green.

Boston Globe sports columnist Bob Ryan joined Morning Edition Friday, who provided more details.

"It's a big deal because they are trading a member of a starting five that has accomplished great things in the past four years, and in fact people are fond of saying that this particular five never lost a playoff series when fully intact, which is true," Ryan said. "And it was a surprise. I think that when we all woke up Thursday morning no one foresaw this."

But what drove the deal?

"Perkins' contract was up at the end of the season and apparently they are oceans apart, he and his representatives and the Celtics, on the concept of what would be a fair deal in the future, so that's part of it," Ryan said. "They felt that they had an acute need for another forward and one who could give them better depth, and also give them better attacking power offensively, and that person is Jeff Green.

"I think they are every bit as capable of winning the championship with this new configuration as they were [Thursday]. But, believe me, that is just an opinion."