Kendrick Perkins Tells Rich Paul That Timberwolves Are Best Fit for LeBron James

LeBron James is still without a team more than two weeks into free agency, and the list of possible landing spots seems to shift by the day.

Kendrick Perkins believes the answer is already sitting in the Western Conference.

Speaking directly to LeBron's agent Rich Paul on the Game Over podcast, the former NBA center made his case for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the best home for the 41-year-old next season, and he did not hesitate when the topic came up.

"If you're talking about plugging him into a space where he can go now and compete for a title," Perkins began, before admitting the move would ask something of LeBron too. "Now, I'm not saying he's going to be happy but Anthony Edwards do bring you joy, okay? LaMelo Ball will bring him joy."

Perkins then pointed to the one spot Minnesota never filled this summer.

"But if you look at what they missing, all they missing is that quote, unquote that small forward to fill that part of Julius Randle that takes them over the hump," he said.

The hole Perkins described is real.

Minnesota went 49-33 last season and lost to the Spurs in the second round, then spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Anthony Edwards, who averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game.

Randle was sent to Brooklyn, Naz Reid went to Charlotte in the trade that brought back LaMelo Ball, and the projected lineup now has Ayo Dosunmu penciled in at small forward, a role covered in more depth in this look at the roster the front office believes in.

LeBron would fill that spot better than anyone left on the market.

He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games last season, and his playmaking would ease the load on a backcourt that is still learning to share the ball.

He also built a real bond with Edwards during their gold medal run in Paris, so the relationship piece is already in place.

Ball already sounded excited about the roster at his introduction, something he touched on when he spoke about the Edwards pairing earlier this week.

There are reasons for doubt, though.

LeBron turns 42 in December and his 2025-26 season ended early with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the playoffs entirely, so betting a title window on his health is risky.

Paul has also said publicly that his client is not simply chasing a ring, which cuts against the whole premise of the pitch.

Even Perkins admitted LeBron might not be happy there, and with the Warriors and others still calling, Minnesota is chasing him from behind.

The fit on paper is obvious, as the case for the Ball trade showed, but obvious fits have lost out to LeBron's other priorities before.