Jeff Green didn't nearly live up to expectations after he was traded to the Celtics by the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kendrick Perkins, and according to a Yahoo! report, the pressure of joining a veteran-laden championship contender didn't help.
"Theyve been together for a number of years," Green said of the Celtics. "Theyve already won a championship, theyve already have a system, they already have their chemistry and that bond on that team. It was tough to go into that situation."
Green is currently a restricted free agent, and it's uncertain whether he will have a chance to redeem himself in Boston whenever the lockout ends.
It's a wonder whether he'll even want to. There was pressure on him to be a versatile scorer and a reliable defender on the wing for the Celtics' stretch run. He was expected to be a key piece to the puzzle as the Celtics attempted a return to the Finals. It was a lot to handle for the 2007 lottery pick.
The prospect of filling the void left by Perkins -- a starter and fan-favorite -- may have also weighed him down.
"The one thing about me is that Im not trying to fill anybodys shoes," Green said. "Kendrick is a totally different player than myself. People looked at me being the type of player I am and with the name I have going into this situation, they expected me to fill his shoes."