The Pelicans and unrestricted free agent Kendrick Perkins are in the process of finalizing a contract, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports. Cleveland.com reports that Perkins and the Pelicans have agreed to the contract. And while Perkins may not provide much in the way of statistical output, his ability to act as a solid locker room presence for an up-and-coming squad in a fiercely competitive Western Conference could be worth the cheap cost of acquisition.
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Perkins is a one-time champion who has been to the National Basteball Association Finals four times throughout his career.
Sources confirmed the one-year deal would be at the league minimum.
He was traded to Oklahoma City during the 2010-2011 season and last season played for the Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
“Great locker room guy”, LeBron James said of Perkins on February 24, according to Northeast Ohio Media Group’s Joe Vardon.
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Perkins, 30, only showed up in 17 games for the Cavs, playing just 9.8 minutes per game while averaging 2.6 points. The Los Angeles Clippers also had interest in the 6-foot-10 big and wanted to reunite him with Paul Pierce and head coach Doc Rivers, but they ultimately moved forward with Cole Aldrich and Josh Smith.
