The Cavaliers have emerged as the frontrunners to sign veteran center Kendrick Perkins, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports/FOX Sports 1 insider Adrian Wojarnowski.
Perkins' contract is expected to be bought out by the Utah Jazz on Saturday, making him a free agent. The Jazz obtained Perkins from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deadline-deal trade for Enes Kanter and Steve Novak on Thursday.
Sources told Wojarnowski earlier this week that Perkins would strongly consider the Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls following a contract buyout. It appears that the Cavs, looking for a defensive-minded backup for Timofey Mozgov, now have the advantage.
Perkins is 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds. He has spent the majority of his 12 NBA seasons as a tough interior presence, particularly on the defensive end.
He had spent the past four-and-a-half seasons with the Thunder. Prior to that, he played for the Boston Celtics, with whom he won a championship in 2008. Perkins, 30, has compiled career averages of 5.6 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Perkins expressed gratitude to Oklahoma City and Thunder fans on his Twitter account following his trade to Utah.
"I would like to start off by saying Thank You to the State of Oklahoma for treated my family and I like Family and we Thank Yall so much!" Perkins said on Twitter.
He later added: "We are going to miss this wonderful place and all of you guys hold a special place in ours hearts! ThunderUp for life."
Perkins is also said to be considering the Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers as possible destinations.
"Perkins' talents have diminished in the past few years, but his toughness and leadership still makes him a valued presence in contending locker rooms," Wojarnowski wrote.
