Zhang Yang heard that trading for Artest required including Perkins and knew this trade was not going to happen.
Even if the King's team said they wanted another draft right, veteran leader Muhammad, or Rondo, Muhammad, Mike Miller, Jarett Jack, and Afflalo's signing rights, plus draft rights, they could probably make it happen at Big Brother Group with a bunch of loose change for a frontline defensive core, and it absolutely wouldn't be a loss.
But involving Perkins was truly not viable.
Perkins, with an average of 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, seemed to be overpaid with a $4 million annual salary, but in reality, this price was incredibly fair. In the offseason, teams like the Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, Pistons, Jazz, and Chicago Bulls...aside from the Suns, all championship-contending teams offered Perkins mid-level contracts.
