By SAM AMICO
FOXSportsOhio.com
Feb. 25, 2011
For the first time in a while, the NBA trading deadline wasn't all about dumping salary. Well, unless you're the Los Angeles Clippers, who apparently believe NBA players should only make a slightly higher salary than fast-food fry cooks.
But for nearly everyone else, trading day was about improving your chances to make a run at the title (Boston, Oklahoma City) or at the very least, the playoffs (Memphis, Portland).
Let's begin with the title contenders.
No one envisioned the trade of Boston's Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. While this trade was made in part because of contract issues (Perkins refused to sign an extension), it also works from a pure basketball standpoint.
The Celtics now have Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal and Krstic to play center, and can even use Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis at the position in a pinch. It's true that both O'Neals are mostly washed up and fairly injury prone, and that Perkins is one of the top two or three defensive centers in the league.
But all of that is OK because the Celtics are no longer nearly as worried about opposing stud centers such as Dwight Howard of Orlando or Andrew Bynum of the L.A. Lakers.
Actually, the Celtics are still very mindful of Howard
