Last year, when the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Kendrick Perkins to the Utah Jazz as a part of the deal for Enes Kanter. OKC had to send their emotional leader to the Jazz but the Thunder have found a way to survive. Utah would waive him and Perkins was mysteriously, highly coveted by playoff teams. He ended up signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and his impact was probably felt the most off-the-court.
Perk was not re-signed by the Cavs this summer and they signed Russian big man Sasha Kaun to replace him in the big man rotation. With the recent troubling chemistry issues coming out of Cleveland, people have been looking for answers as to why all this nonsense is going on. Kendrick Perkins’ departure might have played a part in it.
Perkins signed with the Pelicans this summer and he’s even voiced his concerns about the efforts from the Pels this season. Pelicans coach, Alvin Gentry, has already declared the team out of the playoff hunt this summer so Perkins frustrations are warranted.
What can the Cavs do now? Well, not much. You can replace Perkins production on the court, since it was minimal, but his off-court presence is not replaceable. Cleveland and LeBron James, in particular, is going to have to find a way out of this mess and fast.
