The less talked about part of the Perkins trade

Ok, so it's not that no one talks about it but it's certainly less of a tangible piece to that trade.

We could see Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic on the court and what they brought to the team. However, the value of the unprotected Clippers pick the Celtics got from the Thunder for Perkins and Nate Robinson has yet to be determined. In addition to that, most people don't even know what "unprotected" means. It means that if it is in the top 10 for the next four drafts then LA will get to keep it. Things get a little complicated though and the Globe's Gary Washburn breaks it down:

The pick is top 10-protected for the next four drafts, meaning the Clippers keep it if it is in the top 10. If it is, and the Clippers use it, then the Celtics get a first-round pick the following season.

If only it were that simple.

Former Celtic Sam Cassell comes into play because of a 2005 trade that sent him and a 2012 first-round pick from Minnesota to the Clippers for Lionel Chalmers and Marko Jaric. Now, if the Clippers finish out of the top 10 and are forced to give their pick to the Celtics, the Celtics would receive the lower of the picks between Minnesota and Los Angeles.

The Clippers are expected to make a playoff run next season, so their pick is likely to be mid-first-round and could serve as a trade chip next month for the Celtics. Because of the potential lockout, draft night could be an opportunity for teams to move veterans for draft picks, because if there is not a new deal by July 1, teams will be prohibited from making transactions.

Expect the Celtics to dangle that pick in a trade for a veteran, or they could keep it and have two first-rounders next year.

The 2012 draft is expected to be star-studded, with players such as Harrison Barnes and Perry Jones, so that first round pick the Celtics own may be valuable. It was astute for the Celtics brass to ask for a 2012 pick rather than a 2011.

Please don't blast me for defending the Perkins trade because that's not what I'm doing. Just an interesting explanation of that pick the Celtics got and their options with it.