Enes Kanter Signs Trail Blazers Offer Sheet: Latest Contract Details, Comments
Center Kanter came into his own after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season, but his future with the team is in question, as he reportedly signed a max offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Continue for updates.
Thunder Reportedly Set to Match Offer Sheet
Sunday, July 12
David Aldridge of NBA.com reported the Thunder will match the four-year, $70 million offer sheet Kanter signed on Thursday. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports noted the Thunder hadn't notified the Blazers of their intentions to do so.
Aldridge first reported word of the deal between Kanter and Portland, with Wojnarowski confirming the Thunder had received the offer sheet and that Oklahoma City had three days to match the offer.
The decision to match the deal would not be shocking, given what Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said to Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman before the team received the offer sheet:
Kanter was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, but he was forced to constantly fight for playing time with other . His frustration reached a fever pitch in 2014-15, which resulted in a trade to the Thunder.
With Kevin Durant out of the lineup, Kanter became a key complement to guard Russell Westbrook, averaging 18.7 points and 11 rebounds per contest in 26 games with Oklahoma City.
Not only did Kanter play better than ever before with the Thunder, but he also felt more wanted and appreciated than he did during his time in Utah, per Sam Gannon of Fox 25:
has made it clear since acquiring the big man that he would love to have Kanter in the fold for the foreseeable future as well. Per Slater, dealt for Kanter with the intention of working out a long-term deal at some point.
"We wouldn't have traded for him if we didn't feel like we'd be in a position to have him with us going forward," said back in April.
The partnership between Kanter and the Thunder was mutually beneficial this past season, and one can only assume the pair would be a good fit in 2015-16 and beyond.
The 23-year-old revealed after the season that he would like to return to Oklahoma City:
Despite his previously stated desire to remain with the Thunder, Kanter made a smart financial decision by signing the offer sheet.
He is now in an advantageous position, since it will lock him into a good contract, and if Oklahoma City does match it, the deal allows him to be a key piece on a potential title contender.
The Switzerland-born big man finally showed signs of reaching his potential in 2014-15, and that should continue next season regardless of where he ends up.
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