Enes Kanter to Thunder: Latest Trade Details, Analysis and Reaction

Enes Kanter has gotten his wish: He is no longer a member of the Utah Jazz.

Utah made things official via the team's website with a quote from Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsay:

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“This trade allowed us to add assets while helping to maintain flexibility for the future,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey.  “Trades like this are never easy, but we thank Enes and Steve for their contributions to the team and in the community and wish them well as they move forward in their careers.”

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Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports first reported that the fourth-year center had been shipped to Oklahoma City as part of a three-team deal that sees Kendrick Perkins headed to Utah, and Reggie Jackson bound for Detroit.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported the full return for Kanter:

Wojnarowski also reported that the Thunder are interested in signing Kanter to a long-term contract. Perkins is expected to be bought out by the Jazz, with the Clippers and Cavaliers interested in signing him once the process is complete, per Wojnarowski. He would later add the Bulls to that list. 

Kanter is averaging a career-high 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Although he has defensive limitations, he is a very talented offensive player, and at just 22 years old, there is still plenty of room for him to develop. 

However, his future in Utah always looked bleak. The Jazz opted not to extend him, making him a restricted free agent after the season. Moreover, the team had become more infatuated with Rudy Gobert as the season wore on. In December, Kanter and Gobert averaged 30.1 and 21.7 minutes per game, respectively. In January, those numbers were at 27.6 and 27.7, respectively. 

After playing just 18 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 11, Kanter told The Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk that he would prefer to be moved prior to Thursday's trade deadline. Utah, likely knowing the big man wasn't in its future plans past this year, chose to get something for him while it still could.

The presence of Gobert likely made this move a lot easier. Although he doesn't have the same offensive skill set as Kanter, the Frenchman has quickly developed into one of the league's most imposing rim protectors, boasting a unique blend of length and athleticism.

ESPN.com's David Thorpe recently gushed about the rising star, calling him the best sophomore in the league: 

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In addition, Gobert is scoring more, passing better, being stronger and smarter with the ball and rebounding just a shade below where he was as a rookie. In other words, his improvement is not a fluke. He looked the part in the Vegas summer league and on France's national team, and he has been even more sensational in the NBA this season. At just 22 (and with a body that is still developing) he has even more room to grow as a player -- a fact that should greatly excite the Jazz.

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With no more timeshare, he will enter the starting lineup—something pundits believe should have happened a long time ago—and he will get all of the minutes he can handle as he continues to grow. 

As for the Thunder, this is a potentially risky transition with Kanter set to be a restricted free agent after this year; however, this move gives them a burgeoning offensive star and puts them on the inside track to sign him for the long term.