Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge has confirmed rumors that he has sat down with former Celtics bruiser Kendrick Perkins. However, Ainge also says that Boston is unlikely to seek out a reunion with Perkins this season.
Brian Robb of Boston Sports Journal tweeted out Ainge's comments on the possibility of bringing in Perkins to the fold.
Danny Ainge confirms to @Toucherandrich that he has spoken with Kendrick Perkins about a return but said 'It's not a good fit for us right now.'
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 29, 2018
Perkins, 34, recently played for the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers last year. Though he played a grand total of one game for the Cavs, his veteran presence and locker room leadership were deemed valuable by the team.
The 6-foot-10 burly big man spent the first eight years of his career with the Celtics. A tough and gritty defensive center, he anchored Boston's defense during their successful championship run in 2008.
But with NBA teams opting to go with the modern flow of the pace-and-space game, Perkins had difficulties finding a niche in the league for the past few years. Slow-footed centers with no perimeter game like Perkins have been extinct in the league for some time now.
Perkins' career averages of 5.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game don't necessarily impress but his true asset for the team is beyond what the numbers tell you. During his stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant singled out Perkins during his 2014 MVP speech.
“I hated you before you got here. But the moment you got here, man, you just changed my whole perception of you. Just one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, man. I thank you so much.”
If Ainge decides to change course and sign Perkins so he can end his career with the green-and-white, the Celtics players still finding their identity as a team would definitely welcome the presence of the proven veteran big man.
Follow Us
Subscribe