The reality is we have Varejao under a great contract for the next 3 years so really, we don’t HAVE to do anything. Everyone knows championship windows don’t last, especially for small market teams. OKC can win all the regular season games it wants but the fact is they have not proven they can compete with Miami in a 7 game series and that fact hasn’t changed. I’d even argue that Miami has gotten better since last year by improving their bench AND they will more than likely have a much healthier Dwayne Wade in a finals rematch.

The idea of Kendrick Perkins holding any above average on court value to any NBA team relative to other players is a legend. A myth floated around 4 years ago when Kendrick Perkins actually appeared relevant and the talking heads needed to assign some type of reason as to why the Celtics won a title, after the fact that it happened. People like Kendrick Perkins because he’s a leader and he plays with passion. Great, why isn’t Nelson Mandela playing for OKC then? Varejao has been forced to become a leader for an inept Cavs squad for the last 3 years. And he doesn’t just lead by being passionate and vocal, he leads by actually providing energy and some type of on court impact.

TODAY, Anderson Varejao is at least on par with Kendrick Perkins in defending Dwight Howard, which I guess is the reason people say he is so important to the Thunder? That in itself is a stupid strategy, you don’t plan your team around the possibility of maybe facing one player in the playoffs. There are chances you may not even see Howard in the playoffs this year…or any year after that.

But the real reason why Varejao is a significant upgrade over Perkins is on the offensive end of the ball. Perkins is slow and provides negative value, while Varejao is a quick pick n roll player that can also create MULTIPLE extra offensive possessions a game. AKA giving Durant and Westbrook more opportunities to shoot. This thunder team isn’t built on defense, it’s built on the ability to outscore its opponents. Varejao gives you a huge advantage on the offensive end by simply more shots attempted.

What’s also comical is the idea that without Perkins and with an injured Varejao, OKC would somehow be worse of than it is now. That’s simply not the case, if only for the fact that it would allow OKC to play Nick Collison who already proves statistically better than Perkins.

Sure the bench of OKC would be shorter if this trade was made…but do you really think PJ3 is going to smell the floor for as long as Kevin Durant is playing? Lamb is insurance in case Martin leaves, I can see that. But, you could also give him up in the deal and just ask for the Lakers pick that we have. Miami didn’t win a title with a deep roster and OKC needs a starting 5 that can outplay them if they have any shot at winning it all over the next 2 years.

When you have a chance to make a move that can improve your team drastically right now and give you a better chance at a title for the next 4 years, you do it. You don’t know when that will happen again.

no way you trade what would be = to 3 first rounders and perk for any single player .. that is not a young all star

With all the talk about the Laker’s struggles, and their desire to move Pao Gasol, I wonder if a Perk and Maynor for Gasol deal doesn’t make more sense. Once again, I realize that this would be more of a short-term strategy, but I would be loving our odds this year in the finals with him.