Pelicans Center Kendrick Perkins Brings Depth and Experience

Now that NBA Summer League and free agency are over —besides a few last minute additions by some teams — Pelicans’ fans can now look forward to the rest of the offseason, counting down the days to preseason games and preparing for the 2015-16 regular season. There is a lot to be excited for in the “Big Easy”.

With 25 as the age average of the starting lineup last season and a new head coach in Alvin Gentry, the Pelicans will continue to grow as a team in a highly competitive Western Conference. Re-signing All-Star forward Anthony Davis to a five-year, $145 million contract, plus returning practically the entire roster from last season brings two words to mind: team chemistry.

Building on the experience from last year, securing the eighth seed in the 2015 NBA playoffs, the young Pelicans team now has a small glimpse of the hard work, effort and diligence it takes to earn a spot in the playoffs.

Pelicans sign Kendrick Perkins, Eye Kevin Durant in 2016

Take this level of experience and add veteran center Kendrick Perkins to the mix, it provides the Pelicans with a solid player who can give veteran leadership, depth, but more importantly, playoff experience. Not to mention, he has played with top-notch players in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. While he probably want provide the team with a lot of production in terms of points per game, he brings a quality veteran attitude, depth and playoff experience.

Veteran leadership

Perkins will get the opportunity to share knowledge with a young Anthony Davis, who will only continue to grow in this league. The 30-year-old center was once young, getting advice from Kevin Garnett during the Boston Celtics “Big Three Era” on in learning to be a big man and finding his niche in the league. In fact, Perkins contributed his best numbers in Boston, averaging 10 points and eight rebounds in different seasons.

Known for his confident, aggressive attitude in the paint, Perkins was never a huge offensive threat. However, it is time for him to reciprocate the duty that was once given to him to the players on this team like Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Quincy Poindexter but specifically the big men. Pelicans’ center Omer Asik recorded seven points an nearly ten rebounds per game last season, stats that resemble Perkins days in Boston. In addition, center Alexis Ajinca averaged nearly seven points and five rebounds.

While these stats may not look like much in terms of production, these two big men, with the guidance of Perkins, will benefit the team overall in providing Davis with support on the glass as he will be needed as a major offensive threat for the Pelicans to earn a chance at the playoffs.

Depth at the center position

With the addition of Perkins, he brings another dimension in the post. While I feel Asik will be the starting center next season, Perkins still has the ability to be a force down low. He can grab rebounds on offense and defense, make players adjust their field goal opportunities when in the paint and score a few points when needed.

Mar 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins (3) grabs a rebound against Brooklyn Nets forward Cory Jefferson (21) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 117-92. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry plans to run an up-tempo offense, something that is not unfamiliar to Perkins as he did it in Oklahoma City with Durant and Westbrook. It will be interesting to see how he finds his place and adjusts to working in Gentry’s system. When he does, he should have better production than last season where he played 68 games for Oklahoma City and Cleveland, averaging four points, five rebounds in nearly 17 minutes of action per game.

Playoff experience

The biggest contribution Perkins brings to this team is playoff experience. According to a nba.com article, Perkins has played in the postseason nine times, four times in the NBA Finals and won a championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics. He has played in 143 playoff contests, averaging five points, six rebounds and one block in 24 minutes.

To put things in perspective, Perkins has felt the adversity, the hardships and difficulties of playing in the playoffs, playing on a team with its back against the walls in the NBA Finals and he knows how to step up and make big plays when needed.

Taking that and factoring in the Pelicans’ opponents in the Southwest division — Houston, Memphis, San Antonio and Dallas — every team made the playoffs and from the looks of it, things will not change much.

With Gentry as coach, a superstar forward, a team that returns mostly all of its players from last season and bringing a veteran like Perkins into the mix, the Pelicans have the tools to be a strong contender in the wild, wild Western Conference — though, it will take consistent growth and effort….

Next: The New Orleans Pelicans and the Cost of Continuity