The Cleveland Cavaliers’ roster is now down to 15 players after waiving veteran center Kendrick Perkins, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Cavaliers signed the 32-year-old Perkins, who sat out the entire 2016-17 season, on September 25, before training camp started. Perkins was determined to make the 15-man roster, working himself into playing shape. In three preseason games with the Cavaliers, Perkins tallied a total of 12 points and 11 boards in 35 minutes. A 27th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003, he was traded to the Boston Celtics on Draft Day.
Perkins’ career has been marred by injuries as he has never played a full season in his 12-year NBA stint.
In his eight years with the Celtics, Perkins had a four-year run from 2006 to 2010 with at least 72 games played. Midway through the 2011 season, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After playing for three more seasons with the Thunder, Perkins was traded to the Utah Jazz, who bought him out. The buyout allowed Perkins to join the Cavaliers for the rest of the 2014-15 season. He played 37 games for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2015-16 season before skipping the next season. Perkins was a member of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics team that won an NBA championship. He also played in the NBA Finals two other times with the Celtics (2010) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2012).
Cavaliers plans to hire Perkins as coach
According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers plan to hire Perkins as coach if he remains unsigned. According to Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, he already discussed that possibility with Perkins, who is open to the idea. Lue said Perkins has the characteristics of a great coach because he holds everybody accountable and plays the right way.
“He tries to do the right thing every single day,” said Lue. In 781 career games, Perkins averaged 5.4 points, 5.8 boards and 1.2 blocks per outing.
Cavaliers beat Magic in final preseason game
In his final preseason game with the Cavaliers, Perkins played 13 minutes, scoring four points with three rebounds, two assists and two blocks as they defeated the Orlando Magic, 113-106.
Cleveland played without superstar LeBron James, who is still nursing a sore ankle, but veteran point guard Jose Calderon picked up the slack, scoring 18 points off the bench while Dwyane Wade added 15 points as the Cavaliers notched their first victory in five preseason games. Kyle Korver had 11 points and Ante Zizic chipped in 10 for the Cavaliers, who will open their season against the Boston Celtics at home on October 17.
