Cleveland Cavaliers officially sign Kendrick Perkins

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made it official, Kendrick Perkins is back with the team. The team kept it’s tradition of signing post-season muscle on the last day of the year alive, electing not to bring back Dahntay Jones this year.

Calling Perkins just muscle is probably unfair, as he is one of the more beloved teammates in the association. He has spent this year with the Canton Charge, where he averaged 8.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

When the Cavs didn’t bring back Perkins prior to the 2015-2016 season, it reportedly upset the roster:

“They were highly pissed. I knew this for a fact. They were highly ticked off, this team, when the team didn’t re-sign Kendrick Perkins and they ended up picking up over the summer Sasha Kaun -- a 29-, 30-year-old rookie who has not really played at all and I don’t really think is ready for the NBA.

So, he’s collecting about $2 million right now a season and not even playing. Kendrick Perkins would’ve been brought back for the veteran’s minimum.

Players – I know for a fact, I talked to them – they were highly ticked off about that, not bringing him back. Because it wasn’t about his numbers. It was about the intangibles, the emotional leadership and the enforcer, the enforcement role he brought to the team.”

With players deserving of minutes likely sitting outside of the playoff rotation, it makes sense for the Cavs to add a strong locker room presence rather than another player that would want minutes.