UPDATE: Hinrich to Atlanta deal is finalized, according to David Aldridge.

The Boston Celtics had discussions with the Washington Wizards focused on Kirk Hinrich, according to CBS Sports’ Ken Berger, but the pasty-skinned guard is likely headed to Atlanta.

“Wizards guard Kirk Hinrich close to being dealt to the Hawks in multi-player trade, source tells Y! Sports,” tweeted Marc Spears. Berger added, “The Hawks-Wiz deal would be Hinrich for Jamal Crawford, source says. Not done, but close.” Alex Kennedy reports that Atlanta’s offer would center on Mike Bibby, rather than Crawford.

The Celtics’ inability (or unwillingness) to acquire Hinrich is probably for the best. He’s a tough, gritty player who — despite standing only 6’4 — actually does great work while defending Paul Pierce. But his contract stands to pay him $8 million next year, which is far too expensive for Kirk Hinrich, and he doesn’t fill the C’s backup small forward hole. On to the next rumor.

I interrupt the regularly scheduled trade rumors to bring you news that will, quite appropriately, induce a scowl. Kendrick Perkins, who banged his knee yesterday and was diagnosed with a bruised knee, actually suffered a strained MCL. The injury is to Perk’s left knee, or, in other words, the one that had been his healthy knee.

According to CSNNE’s Jessica Camerato, Perkins is listed as day-to-day. But he is now expected to miss at least the remainder of Boston’s Western Conference road trip, which concludes Monday after games in Denver, Los Angeles (Clippers) and Utah.

The Celtics could be considering a trade of Semih Erden, whose size and potential intrigues teams such as the Cavaliers (who could offer Anthony Parker in return). But Perk’s injury could cause the Celtics to lean towards keeping the Turk. Though Perk is listed as day-to-day, this injury only highlights the fragile nature of Boston’s roster, and their need to hold on to any and all capable big men.

Get well soon, Perk. May your day-to-day listing be true.

If the Boston Celtics want to scoop Anthony Parker from the Cleveland Cavaliers, they will most likely need to part ways with Semih Erden. (Akron Beacon Journal)

With the NBA’s trade deadline two days away, Parker remains the Cavs’ top target of interest from teams around the league. Both the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have expressed interest in him, one league source said, but the Cavs want a player in return and not a low draft pick.

They have targeted Omer Asik from the Bulls and Semih Erden from the Celtics, but both teams have been reluctant to part with either player. Asik is 7 feet tall, and Erden is listed at 6-11. Both were second-round picks in 2008.

I’ve asked this question before, when Marc Stein reported the Cavs were looking for a promising big man in return for Parker, but: Would you trade Semih Erden for Anthony Parker? It couldn’t be done straight up, but would you trade Marquis Daniels and Semih Erden for Anthony Parker?

I’m leaning toward no. I’m not completely against moving Erden, if the right deal presents itself. But Parker’s not even a definite upgrade over Von Wafer, who — might I add — has been playing quite well recently. Parker’s also not the type of player on whom the Celtics should spend a promising seven-footer.

You know who is, though? Shane Battier. But the Celtics are reportedly against sending Erden to Houston, even for the man with built-in cornrows. (Houston Chronicle)

ESPN reported that the Celtics had interest in Battier, but quickly shot that down, pointing out that the Celtics would not be willing to move the players the Rockets would want. Actually, I think the Rockets would be tempted to make the deal if the Celtics would include center Semih Erden, though we’ll probably never know since Boston apparently wants to keep and develop him.

If Shane Battier is available and Semih Erden’s the only thing holding the deal back, I assume Danny Ainge will pull the trigger. If not, well, he’ll have to answer to my wrath.

P.S. – Kendrick Perkins said his knee is “real sore” after bumping it last night, and his status for Thursday’s game is in the air. Perk didn’t undergo any additional testing, meaning the injury shouldn’t be too serious. (*Furiously knocking on wood*)

P.P.S. – Leon Powe’s looking for a buyout. I assume that piques some of your interest, but remember: Powe has done approximately squaw-doosh for Cleveland, and the C’s don’t exactly need another undersized power forward.

After swinging and apparently whiffing in an attempt to acquire Jared Dudley, Grant Hill or Mickael Pietrus, the Boston Celtics are now looking elsewhere to satisfy their small forward needs. (Boston Herald)

Among the places the Celtics have looked is Phoenix. Three sources confirmed the clubs spoke about three Suns wings — former Boston College star Jared Dudley, Grant Hill and Mickael Pietrus.

Dudley’s defensive abilities would make him a strong fit with the Celtics, and all three could certainly help. But those talks fizzled out.

“That looks like it’s gone,” said one source, “but you never know.”

It may be more likely a new Celtic comes from a group of players who’ve been mentioned as potential buyout candidates — Morris Peterson, Jason Kapono, Rasual Butler and Sasha Pavlovic among them.

The moral of the story: If you’re a small forward who has a pulse (and, in Sasha Pavlovic’s case, even if you don’t have a pulse), Danny Ainge is inquiring about your availability. Unfortunately for Boston, none of these four players (with the possible exception of Butler) would make the Celtics any better.

Peterson hasn’t been relevant since the Bush administration, Kapono’s a step down from Von Wafer, and Pavlovic wouldn’t score 20 points a game in my high school league. Butler could work, but he’s no sure-thing home run. Just a lazy fly ball that has a chance if the wind really, really picks up.

According to Chris Mannix, the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are frontrunners to sign Troy Murphy when his contract gets bought out.

Would Murphy help the Celtics? It depends whether the Celtics would pick up his name or his game. By that, I mean: Is Troy Murphy still Troy Murphy? Is he still the double-double candidate who — even though he couldn’t keep my kitchen sink from scoring a hoop — spreads the floor and snatches rebounds like they’re Costco free samples? Or is he someone else, the player who couldn’t crack New Jersey’s rotation and shot 34.2% from the field (and 17.4% from the arc) in his limited playing time?

If Shaq returns to health at any point, Murphy makes no sense. But Shaq will forever remain an injury question mark, so Murphy (I guess) would provide insurance. If he can still play.

Forgive me if I’m skeptical about adding a player who averaged a double-double as recently as last season. He just A) has never won anything in his entire life, so he probably doesn’t know how to play winning basketball, B) might not be the same player we remember averaging those double-doubles, and C) is licensed in spray-tanning. Seriously.

Boston used a 55-33 second half to upend Golden St.

Winning an NBA game is tough. Winning the same NBA game twice, which is what these Boston Celtics often have to do, is — quite predictably — tougher. How many times has the script unfolded just like tonight, with the Celtics sprinting to an early lead that the second unit promptly, and furiously, coughs up?

Too often, Boston’s bench doesn’t just blow leads — it massacres them. It vacuums any momentum, leaving the Celtics’ starters staring a deficit in the eyes, during games which should have already been won. Nate Robinson enters the game, and suddenly the offense just doesn’t work. Semih Erden enters the game, and suddenly rebounds fall into opponent’s hands. Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen sub out, and quickly the Celtics fall from a championship-quality outfit to a D-League-quality mess. The bench meltdown doesn’t happen every game, I know. But it happens often enough to be considered a problem.

Boston actually won tonight’s contest by quite a few points, and the 115-93 final score indicated a blowout. But still, anger invades me and eats at my insides. Why? The blasted bench. The starters originally jumped to a quick lead, and they were humming. Rondo was scoring at will, Kevin Garnett was shooting jumpers like there were no defenders in sight (which makes sense; there weren’t), and the C’s worked to get easy shots. Until the bench came in, and quickly vaporized all momentum Boston had built.

Okay, no more complaints from me. The Celtics still won by 22 points, you see, so there were certainly some positives. Rondo penetrated into the lane at will, mostly because he’s Rajon Rondo and partly because, as Bill Walton said, “It shouldn’t make any difference” who guarded Rondo. “Because neither Curry or Ellis are going to play defense anyway.” Rondo wreaked havoc all night, scoring as he pleased and utilizing paint touches to find wide open teammates. It was Rondo’s birthday, and if I was super corny I’d make a joke about how his gift was a game played against Monta Ellis’ and Stephen Curry’s defense.

The C’s allowed only 33 second-half points, to a team that loves scoring points. Kevin Garnett worked his rump off, and was quite destructive in many ways. Neither Paul Pierce or Ray Allen forgot how to shoot during the All-Star break. Von Wafer could really use some more of Nate Robinson’s minutes, I’d say. Glen Davis double-doubled, and somehow added three steals.

Semih Erden played 17 minutes, scored zero points and contributed one rebound. He did, however, have four assists. A Rondo-Delonte West-Nate Robinson backcourt surprised me, and probably only works against Golden St. Speaking of West, his return to the court was largely uneventful. If today was any indication, he needs time to work his legs back into shape.

The Celtics confirmed tonight what we already know: they’re a lot better than the Golden St. Warriors, and Rajon Rondo’s a pretty masterful point guard. But the C’s still need to learn how to play 48 full minutes on a consistent basis, which means the bench needs to start holding up its end of the bargain.

P.S. – Kendrick Perkins left the game with a bruised left knee (not the knee he had surgery on). It didn’t look serious, but Perk walked off the floor with a slight limp.