"Just let me stay, Danny. Please?"

Kendrick Perkins’ current contract expires after this season, but he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He told the Boston Globe “he will push aside any concern about his expiring contract until the end of the regular season.”

“I want to stay here (in Boston),” he said. “I told Danny (Ainge) I ain’t going nowhere and I meant it.”

In a league where Brendan Haywood — Brendan Haywood?? — has a $55 million contract, the Celtics will likely have to fork over some big bucks to keep Perk a man of his word. Even if Perk’s as adamant to stay in Boston as he claims, it’s tough to turn down $50 million+ when it’s staring you straight in the face.

Perk said his rehab continues to progress nicely. “I thought this knee (rehabilitation) was going to be more difficult than it really was but it’s all right.”

One more thing? Don’t expect Perk to pull an Antoine Walker just because his contract expires just in time for the potential lockout. “I’m pretty good with saving my money,” he said. “I come from nothing, so it ain’t like it’s a big problem.”