There was an interesting tidbit this weekend on the state of things in OKC not necessarily being OK, with Perkins being in the mix.
Kendrick Perkins Making News - NYDailyNews.com
As much as coach Scott Brooks chafes at GM Sam Presti's meddling, his presence in the locker room, and his demands that the Thunder continue to improve from within, the organization is a lot more concerned with how Kendrick Perkins treats Russell Westbrook.
After arriving from the Celtics last season and being looked at as the veteran leader Oklahoma City needed to take the next step to compete for a title, Perkins went hard at Westbrook with his verbal criticisms, often saying that the Thunder's playmaker couldn't match Rajon Rondo as a playmaker. Those words didn't sit well with Westbrook, who already had been criticized for shooting too much and was the subject of a benching heard-round-the-NBA when the Thunder played the Mavs in June.
The Thunder gave Perkins a new four-year deal worth $35 million, so the team is committed to him. But it would like him to ease up on Westbrook. A lot.
There has been a lot reminiscing of what last year's playoffs would have been like if Kendrick Perkins was still in a Celtics jersey, most recently by Shaq who reportedly told Ainge to not do the Perkins deal. But on the flip side, Perkins point-of-reference for a point guard remains as Rondo, who was indeed his "best man" at Perkins wedding in 2009.
With this kind of push-pull effect going on in Boston and OKC, perhaps the trading between these two teams isn't over. If you see any Westbrook for Rondo trade rumors bantered about - this is probably why.