UPDATE: Perkins’ agent told Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski that his client has reached a buy-out with Utah and indeed plans to sign in Cleveland. The big man took to twitter shortly thereafter and announced the news himself:
It's a Blessing for me to have another opportunity to join a Great Organization @cavs! Can't wait to play with Greatness @KingJames!#TheLand
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 21, 2015
I'm on my way! @KingJames @KyrieIrving @RealTristan13 @kevinlove @MikeMiller_13 @TheRealJRSmith @I_Am_Iman! #Cavs 👊👊👊👊👊
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 21, 2015
PREVIOUSLY: Kendrick Perkins has a choice. He can take his mean-mugging play to the team led by his long-time rival, or suit up for a coach that spurred his rise to one of basketball’s foremost enforcers. And though his eventual destination seems a foregone conclusion based on his time with the Boston Celtics, the former Oklahoma City Thunder center is supposedly close to teaming with the enemy instead.
According to a report, LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Los Angeles Clippers in bidding for Perkins’ services once he’s officially bought out by the Utah Jazz.
Here’s Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as the strong frontrunners to sign center Kendrick Perkins, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Clippers president and coach Doc Rivers is still recruiting Perkins hard and planned to speak to him for a second time on Saturday, league sources said. Perkins is leaning strongly toward committing to the Cavaliers, but plans to hear Rivers out again before making a final decision.
Though the 30 year-old big man isn’t the force he was with Boston, he’s also no longer the unplayable laughingstock he was last season with Oklahoma City. Perkins has enjoyed a relative renaissance in 2014-2015, as evidenced by the advanced numbers that supported his value for so long rebounding to solid marks of years past.
The Cavaliers could certainly use his size and toughness on the interior, too. Other than Timofey Mozgov, Cleveland has no legitimate center of which to speak on the roster. In potential playoff matchups with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, or even Toronto Raptors, Perk’s individual defensive prowess would prove a boon for David Blatt’s team – especially if Mozgov succumbs to foul trouble.
And with DeAndre Jordan playing the best basketball of his career, it goes without saying that greater opportunity for playing time exists in Cleveland as opposed to Los Angeles.
We’ll keep you updated as news on Perkins’ decision becomes available.
[Yahoo]
