New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins is expected to miss 2-3 months with a pectoral injury, according to league sources.
Perkins suffered the pectoral injury on Halloween night, against the Atlanta Hawks.
This injury couldn’t have occurred at a worse time for the Pelicans, as the team has failed to win in five attempts this season. The Pelicans currently sit last in the Southwest Division with a record of 0-5 to start the season.
Perkins is a 12 year veteran in the NBA, and despite his vast experience, Perkins wasn’t expected to play a big on the court role for the Pelicans. However, with the injury to fellow big man and starting center Omer Asik, Perkins’ role has slowly increased with the team. Perkins has averaged 9.3 minutes per game, but I now expect the starting center minutes to be shared between Anthony Davis and Alexis Ajinca.
Perkins only signed with the Pelicans this offseason, signing a 1 year veteran minimum contract worth just under $950,000. Before the injury Perkins was averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Perkins isn’t the only Pelican currently out due to injury; the team is also missing Tyreke Evans, Norris Cole and Quincy Pondexter.
The Pelicans will miss one key factor that Perkins brings to the table when he is healthy and on the court, which is an experienced voice whilst around the other players. Perkins can still provide that for the younger players on the team, but when your suited up and not in uniform, I just cant see it having the same effect.
This Pelicans team will have to work very hard to win games this year, and even though it’s still early, I think the Pelicans will find it difficult to fight their way into not only a playoff seed, but playoff form. Every year in this league injuries ruin a team’s season and unfortunately for the Pelicans and their fans, I believe that this year it’s them.
