How Much Is Enes Kanter Worth in Free Agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter has been a revelation since coming over from the Utah Jazz in February, but how much will he cost the team this summer?
The 22-year-old big man is slated to be a restricted free agent after this season, and it is important that the Thunder find a way to retain his services for the right price.
The transition from being part of a rebuilding project in Salt Lake City to a featured weapon on a contender with championship aspirations in Oklahoma City has brought out the best in Kanter. In 16 games with his new squad, the Turkish Tower is averaging 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
More important than his production, Kanter seems to be content for the first time in his young career, per Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman.
"Well, the thing is we're winning here. We are playing for something. We are playing for playoffs, we are playing for ring. There (in Utah), I still respect them and I don’t want to say nothing bad about them. But this is just way different than what I've been seeing. It’s a whole different level. This is like I realize what NBA is when I came to Oklahoma City.
"
With Kevin Durant (foot) and Serge Ibaka (knee) likely out until at least the start of the playoffs, Kanter gets to moonlight as the team's de facto second option behind MVP candidate Russell Westbrook.
While Kanter's ability to handle the increased workload has raised Oklahoma City's ceiling, it will also raise his price tag in the offseason.
Given his age, the scarcity of offensive big men in the NBA and his production during the second half of his 2014-15 campaign, Kanter will have plenty of suitors vying for his services.
Teams with salary-cap space and a need for size, such as the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, may test OKC's willingness to break open the piggy bank. Throughout the franchise's history, the Thunder haven't been known for being lavish spenders.
That raises this inevitable question: How much is Kanter worth to Oklahoma City?
What He Brings to the Table
Even on a team with two generational talents in Durant and Westbrook, Kanter is the missing piece to the Thunder's championship puzzle. He is a double-double machine who poses a threat to opposing defenses in the post while gobbling up rebounds with the same aggression Joey Chestnut uses to devour hot dogs.
It is the kind of offensive balance Oklahoma City has never had in the franchise's history, as Slater points out.
"Since the franchise’s arrival in Oklahoma City, the Thunder has had an above-average to elite scorer at every position. Except center.
Before the middle of last month, in its first six-plus seasons in the metro, OKC has never had even a marginal offensive option at the 5 spot.
But the arrival of Enes Kanter has completely changed that.
"
The Thunder have never had a center average double digits in scoring, let alone one capable of contributing nearly 18 points per game.
While Kanter's numbers in Oklahoma City are skewed by a small sample size, it's worth noting that only two other centers currently average at least 17 points and 10 boards per game: the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins (23.8 points, 12.3 rebounds) and Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic (19.3 points, 11.1 rebounds).
That's some pretty sweet company to be in, and as crazy at it is to think about, it establishes Kanter as an almost-irreplaceable talent on this team.
If Kanter were to bolt after the season, how would Oklahoma City replace that production?
Steven Adams is making strides but isn't ready to be relied on offensively. Mitch McGary has struggled to stay healthy, while Ibaka's return in the post would negate his improvement as a three-point shooter as well as exhaust energy he could be using defensively.
Furthermore, the team benefits from Kanter's work on the offensive glass. The Thunder, already the top rebounding club in the NBA, also lead the league with an average of 15 second-chance points per game, per NBA.com.
Once the team returns to full strength, Kanter's ability to generate extra scoring opportunities for the likes of Durant and Ibaka will raise Oklahoma City's ceiling even higher.
The Cost
According to Spotrac, Kanter is the 22nd-highest paid center in the NBA at $5.6 million, which sits behind lesser offensive talents like the Portland Trail Blazers' Robin Lopez ($6.1 million) and the San Antonio Spurs' Boris Diaw ($8 million).
In fairness, Kanter is in the final year of his rookie deal while the others have been around a bit longer.
With his work in Oklahoma City, Kanter has positioned himself for a nice pay raise this summer, but the team's willingness to spend has its limits.
To find a similar precedent, you have to go back to 2013 with the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Nikola Pekovic. Like Kanter, Pekovic was a restricted free agent coming off his most productive season. Also like Kanter, Pekovic was a gifted interior scorer with inferior defensive chops.
The biggest difference between the two is Pekovic was 27 at the time, while Kanter is two months shy of his 23rd birthday. Pekovic also has an extensive injury history, while Kanter has managed to avoid any serious health issues.
| Name | Games Played | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Offensive Rating | Defensive Rating |
| Pekovic | 62 | 16.3 | 8.8 | 115 | 106 |
| Kanter | 16 | 17.6 | 10.8 | 121 | 105 |
Inevitably, the Timberwolves gave their grizzled big man a deal worth $60 million over five years.
Under the new CBA, Kanter can receive a deal worth 25 percent of the team's cap. With a projected 2015-16 cap of $66.3 million, that would entitle the big man to a deal worth up to $16.5 million annually, which would be a gross overpay on Oklahoma City's part.
A deal worth $12 million annually seems reasonable for both Kanter and the Thunder. Kanter hasn't done enough in his career to warrant a contract that's up there with that of the position's top draws. Plus, his inability to defend his position limits his overall value.
At this point, he's a promising talent with the potential to climb the center rankings if he continues to play at his current level.
Meanwhile, the Thunder reportedly offered former point guard Reggie Jackson a four-year deal worth $48 million earlier this year, per Sam Amick of USA Today.
It seems reasonable to assume that, if the team was willing to pay a sixth man that kind of money, the front office would be just as eager to cough up that kind of dough for the most prolific offensive center the team has ever had.
The downside to paying that kind of money for Kanter is it would give Oklahoma City four players making north of $12 million, which would hinder any future cap flexibility to make other improvements.
Prior to this season, the small-market Thunder have been adamant on avoiding the luxury tax, even going so far as to trade future superstar James Harden to stay under the threshold.
There's been nothing to suggest that strategy will change going forward.
The upside is a foursome of Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Kanter along with the team's other pieces would make the Thunder an instant title contender. The decision to lock up Kanter would also be a nice gesture to show Durant, who will be a free agent next summer, that the team is willing to compete at all costs.
However, the more money they spend to keep Kanter, the less they will have to re-sign Durant and Westbrook, who will be a free agent in two years. On the bright side, the future salary cap spike will give OKC some extra money to play with.
Kanter is the kind of young talent who could put the Thunder on top for years to come. Unfortunately, that kind of talent comes with a hefty price tag.
A four-year deal worth around $48 million or even a five-year, $60 million contract seems like a fair commitment to a player who has helped keep the team competitive despite mounting injuries.
With the unique offensive skills Kanter brings to the table, the question isn't whether OKC can afford to keep him. It's whether the team can afford not to.
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