Kendrick Perkins, Thunder Agree to Contract Extension

[Elite]

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed center Kendrick Perkins to a multiyear contract extension Tuesday, the team announced.

"We had a unique opportunity to enter into discussions with Kendrick to solidify his future with our organization," general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. "We are pleased to know that he will be a part of our core group now and in the future. Kendrick's blue-collar, team-first approach aligns with the vision we hold for building a sustainable team in the Oklahoma City community."

The 26-year-old Perkins was unable to agree to an extension with the Boston Celtics, who dealt him to the Thunder at the trade deadline for starters Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Guard Nate Robinson also came over to Oklahoma City, which sent the Celtics a 2012 first-round draft pick and cash.

Terms of Perkins' contract with the Thunder weren't disclosed. The Celtics had reportedly offered him a four-year, $22 million contract. Perkins was reportedly seeking a deal worth $30 million over that same span.

Perkins said he was interested in playing for Oklahoma City as early as last offseason, when he discussed with agent Arn Tellem whether the Thunder might be interested in him when this season was over. He ended up moving sooner than he expected, and was initially shaken up at being traded away from the only NBA team he'd ever played for.

Perkins, who has a sprained left knee, hasn't yet made his debut for the Thunder but said recently that he's hopeful he can be back in time for the Thunder's six-game homestand that starts March 18.

In 12 games with the Celtics this season, Perkins averaged 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.

The 6-foot-10 Perkins was the 27th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

ESPN

 

[Pugz]

good move. funny how he said he was already interested. now they can focus on russy and just playing ball. this team is going to be so scary when the lakers die down.

 

[Pugz]

@WojYahooNBA: Kendrick Perkins' contract extension with OKC pays him $34.8 million over four years, league source tells Y! Sports.

 

[Elite]

Seems like a lot of money for him, not sure he's worth it.

 

[Pugz]

thats right around what every starting big man gets now. its a good price.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I think they should have waited. Atleast let him play a few games to see how he fits.

 

[Pugz]

well according to reports he'll be back in two or weeks or so and he'll be all healed up, no worries.

 

[DJT]

Good move by the Thunder. They got this out of the way real quick.

I can't wait til he gets healthy.

 

[Lake Louise]

Better get it out of the way now then have it become something of focus later. People will be skeptical, especially since he hasn't played yet, but once he does, at full health, the skeptics will start to die off.

 

[RipCity32]

Good move for the Thunder.
Perkins is one of, if not the best, centers in the West.

 

[.GR]

Good deal for both sides. Not too expensive.

 

[bosoxlover12]

the mindset of Danny Ainge..

but good move by the Thunder... i hope they prove themselves this year as a top team in the NBA

 

[Elite]

thats right around what every starting big man gets now. its a good price.

He's played 12 games this year, none with the Thunder, and has had major injuries to both of his knees.

 

[Pugz]

He's played 12 games this year, none with the Thunder, and has had major injuries to both of his knees.

yea, so you base it off of what you know he can do. we all know hes going to be fine, you just dont want to believe it. he was gonna get that same amount regardless of which team wanted to give it to him.

and both parties already planned on meeting and discussing a deal in the off-season. now they have the playoffs to look forward to.

 

[Whisper]

Too good of a move by OKC. I don't get the talk about how he's going to fit in, he should fit in just fine. It's not like he's an offensive force that you have to make plays for. He's an enforcer. Defense and rebounding is what he's there for which is exactly what OKC has been needing.

Didn't really buy into the Thunder before. Just saw them as another undersized young run n' gun squad that could score a la the Phoenix Suns years ago, but now I do. Now they're a team to be reckoned with. Scary. Scary.

 

[SaintFan25]

Great move by the Thunder imo. Lack of a rebounding center was their biggest weakness heading into the season but they addressed it at the trade deadline and now have locked him up.