Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins will have his 2018-19 contract option picked up by the team, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

The move is strictly meant for trade purposes as the Cavs’ front office hopes to attach Perkins’ salary in a deal that would improve the roster ahead of LeBron James’ free agency decision.

Here’s more from McMenamin:

As much as the Cavs appreciate Perkins as a locker room presence, the decision is simply a salary-cap ploy in order to try to aggregate the veteran center’s $2.5 million salary along with an existing contract in order to pursue a trade around the league.

Team sources told ESPN that the Cavs “continue to explore all options to improve” heading into LeBron James‘ decision about his future with the franchise.

Perkins joined the team on the last day of the regular season and did not play during the team’s run to The Finals.

* * *

East Player Movement | West Player Movement | Free Agent Tracker