The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t waste any time jumping at the chance to sign veteran center Kendrick Perkins after he finalized his buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was coordinated with the Thunder’s transactions at the trade deadline, which netted them center Enes Kanter.
While the casual NBA fan might overlook the significance of this deal, it was certainly another smart addition for the Cavaliers, who have emerged as legitimate contenders. Perkins was never a good fit with Oklahoma City but there are a number of reasons to think he is much better off in Cleveland where it looks as though he and the Cavaliers will have a successful marriage.
He’s Wanted
According to sources, Perkins was recruited directly by LeBron James to pick Cleveland as the team he will join in time for a potential championship run and that should speak volumes in regards to the level of respect between the two. LeBron has plenty of experience playing against Perkins dating back to his time with the Boston Celtics and when the LeBron’s Miami Heat played the Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. One of the biggest issues that Perkins reportedly had in Oklahoma City was the perceived lack of respect he felt. He was deemed the weakest link in their starting lineup for years and many critics felt he was nothing more than an albatross on the team. That certainly won’t be an issue after LeBron and company welcomed him to a fresh start in Cleveland.
LeBron tweeted at Perkins “The Land welcome my bro as well as my muscle(LOL) @KendrickPerkins to the city with open arms! Happy and thrilled to have u aboard homie!!” and perhaps the most important part of that is the acknowledgement of the muscle and size that the big man will bring to the Cavaliers.
Physical Presence
Perkins is known for his physical presence and he will undoubtedly provide a boost to Cleveland’s interior defense, which has been a weakness this season. Remember, they did lose power forward Anderson Varejao for the season. The Cavs have raved about how big of a difference that Timofey Mozgov has made and now Perkins will provide even more support down low where he can bump and grind. Cleveland didn’t have the type of physical big men that could wear opponents down at both ends of the floor with their strength and size, but they have acquired two in Mozgov and Perkins and that will be crucial to their success come playoff time.
Playing Time
The good news for the Cavs and Perkins is that with Mozgov playing so well, Perkins can now come in off the bench and just soak up some minutes with the second unit. It’s fair to say that Perkins, while only 30 years old, is beat up for his age. He’s been in the league for 12 years and has no business playing 26 minutes a game. However, in Cleveland, he won’t have to. He’ll come in off the bench and chip in with his muscle. The Cavs aren’t looking to add a core piece. They just needed a final piece of the puzzle.
East Is Lacking Big Bodies
The lack of quality big men in the Eastern Conference adds another element to how important this marriage was to the Cavaliers – especially considering the long list of teams that were interested in his services. The Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs all expressed interest among the Western Conference teams but the one team that really expressed interest from the East was the Chicago Bulls.
It’s unclear whether the Bulls actually wanted him since they already have Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, but it’s possible that signing him – even if they don’t play him – weakens their chief rival in the East. That makes the Cavaliers acquisition that much more important as it’s clear LeBron and company would much rather have Perkins on their team than against them in a playoff series.
The addition of Perkins might not seem like the biggest deal for the casual NBA fan but don’t underestimate the importance of this signing for Cleveland.
