Thunder notebook: Kendrick Perkins expected to join practice

Even when Perkins does join the active roster, there is no guarantee he will start immediately.

“It depends on the circumstances, how he feels,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Wednesday.

Perkins had offseason surgery on the opposite knee, played in 12 games and started seven with the Celtics this season before being traded to the Thunder.

“It's definitely going to take him some time, and we understand that, but we like what he brings,” Brooks said. “We still know we have to get better, even when he's in our lineup.”

STOLEN GOODS

Before Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooks shared a story from his rookie season in 1988-89 when he was with the Sixers.

One of Brooks' duties on the road was to carry the uniform and warm-ups of All-Star point guard Maurice Cheeks, who is now a Thunder assistant and a finalist for the National Basketball Hall of Fame.

Unbeknownst to Cheeks at the time, Brooks kept the outfit after what would be Cheeks' last road game with the Sixers. He was traded to San Antonio that offseason.

“Ten years later, I had him sign it,” Brooks said. “Back then, they made you pay for your uniforms. If you wanted your uniform, you had to pay for it. He didn't even know I had it. He got deducted 175 bucks, whatever it was, out of his check.”