The New Orleans Pelicans signed veteran big man Kendrick Perkins to a one-year deal for the league minimum on Tuesday. While relegated in recent years to warming the bench and providing mean glares from the sideline, the Pelicans are said to have a much more imperative role for Perkins next season: to serve as a mentor for burgeoning young megastar Anthony Davis.
A Tuesday report by ESPN NBA insider Marc Stein relayed the news of New Orleans’ vision for the 30-year-old center.
Perkins, who has averaged only 18.1 minutes per game over the last two seasons, doesn’t bring much to the table from an on-court standpoint anymore, other than short jump hooks, hard screens, and a dash of interior toughness. But former teammates rave about Perkins as an exemplary locker room leader, and his veteran savvy could really help Davis develop the mean streak/competitive fire he needs to achieve true superstardom.
Big Perk might not see the court very much with the Pelicans paying a combined $80 million to retain their center duo of Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca this offseason. But it’s his work with Davis behind the scenes that is really going to bring value to this New Orleans team.
And hey, Perkins has made the Finals with every single team he has played on in the NBA (Boston in 2008/2010, Oklahoma City in 2012, and Cleveland in 2015). Maybe new head coach Alvin Gentry’s prediction wasn’t that far off after all.
H/T Bleacher Report
