Veteran center Kendrick Perkins is going into his 15th NBA season. He spent the first 8 years of his career in Boston, where he won a championship as the Celtics’ starting center in 2008. and then played with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 4 full seasons. Last season he played 51 games for the Thunder, but was then dealt to the Utah Jazz, who bought him out. After the buyout, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed him, and he played with them until they were bounced by the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Now, it appears that Perkins will spend the 2015-16 season in New Orleans.
From ESPN’s Marc Stein:
ESPN sources say Pelicans are finalizing a deal tonight with free agent center Kendrick Perkins
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 21, 2015
Hearing it's a one-year veteran minimum deal for Kendrick Perkins to join the New Orleans frontcourt
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 21, 2015
This is a solid signing by the Pels. Perkins isn’t amazing, but he’s a solid defensive-minded big man who will bring a veteran presence to a young New Orleans team. Last season the Cavs used Perkins as a sort of enforcer, coming off the bench and playing maybe a bit too physically, as seen in the Cavs’ first round series against the Celtics.
