How did Sam Presti avoid amnestying Kendricks Perkins? While we might not ever get an answer that satisfies us, we can at least get a partial notion behind Cleveland’s decision to sign Perkins for what they hope is a run to the title this spring.
Yes, Perkins is a load on the block and he used to play Dwight Howard better than anyone else in the NBA, but Father Time and some knee injuries have turned Perkins into a husk of his Celtics days, and Thunder fans list Scott Brooks’ decision to keep Perk in the starting lineup as one of his biggest mistakes, which is saying something [insert gripe about OKC’s unimaginative offensive sets here]. Perk’s current game is at least partially why Utah waived him after dealing Enes Kanter to the Thunder.
So what then does Perk do for the Cavs? Yes, he’s a veteran presence, and he does have an NBA Title — in 2008 with the Celtics, even though he didn’t play very much during that run — but there are plenty of guys with a title floating around the periphery of the Association willing to settle for even a 10-day deal.
There might be another reason: Swamp Thang has become LeBron’s motivational coach? Per the Northeast Ohio Media Group, comes Kendrick’s rah rah routine with LeBron:
As for James right now, Perkins’ mission is to make sure No. 23 squashes the disrespectful comparison that Perkins says James has been receiving this year.
“A lot of people are starting to compare other players to him and they’re not even on the same level as him,” Perkins said. “I’m just telling him to be great. I’m letting him know that it’s on him to go out there and show the world once again who the man is.”
[…]
“Even though he might not need it, I feel like I got to remind him of who he is,” Perkins said.
[…]
“Whatever I have to do to get this team up to play, I’m going to do it,” he said. “And part of it is making sure ‘Bron is in the right frame of mind. I’m going to do what’s ever in my power to get him going because he’s the best in the game.”
We know Perkins can motivate opponents, and he was teammates with the 2014 MVP; he’s also played alongside greats like Kevin Garnett, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. We’re not saying he doesn’t have a lot to teach some Cavs players, but on the court he’s primarily impotent on the offensive end and has become slow to rotate on defense. Perhaps his game-by-game reminders to James actually help.
Perhaps not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDLIiZ0Al94
Perkins played AAU ball with LeBron when they were younger. The fact they go so far back together might mean LeBron trusts him enough to listen when Perk lauds his abilities before games.
James does not share our view the 30-year-old is largely window dressing on a Cavs team with Timofey Mozgov acting as their rim obstacle to start games and Tristan Thompson capable of playing an undersized five in his stead. James thinks Perk’s addition is great for the team moving forward:
“With Perk, he’s always put his mindset in on who he’s going up against, the team that he’s going up against before he even stepped out on the floor,” James said. “He’s always had that aggression. I loved playing with him when we were kids and I hated playing against him those times when he was in Boston and OKC, and I’m back to loving him again.
“He’s a guy that you hate to go against because he’s just so competitive, so determined to win, and then when you get beside him, you love him because he’s with you and all he cares about is the team. He cares about winning. He’ll run through a wall for you. I’m ecstatic about him being here.”
LeBron is the only one who matters in this scenario, which is what makes Perkins and the $274,573 he’s making this year with Cleveland seem like somewhat of a bargain.
It’s crazy to think a four-time MVP needs a confidence boost before games, but the mysteries of the ego remain long after Freud tooted his last line.
[NEOMG; Vine via Anthony Slater; H/T EOB]
