Why Enes Kanter Could Become the NBA's Highest-Paid Sixth Man

After signing a four-year, $70 million contract, Enes Kanter is on a path to become the NBA's highest-paid sixth man. Despite his offensive prowess, his defensive shortcomings make him a tough sell in the Oklahoma City Thunder's starting lineup.

Kanter was remarkable on the offensive end in his short stint with the Thunder last season, contributing a career-high 18.7 points and 11 rebounds per game in 26 contests. OKC also scored 109.6 points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the floor, the highest for any Thunder player, per NBA.com.

However, despite Kanter's incredible production and massive contract, Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman believes the center's porous defense will keep him out of the starting five: 

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The Thunder certainly is harder to guard with Kanter, no doubt. But I don’t think he’ll start. I think Steven Adams will start. Kanter’s defensive deficiencies can be masked much better coming off the bench, and Adams is a decent-enough pick-and-roller that teams must guard him, too.

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As good as Kanter was offensively in 2014-15, it was negated by his struggles to hold down the fort at the other end. The Thunder posted a defensive rating of 110.4 with the Turkish Tower on the floor, according to NBA.com, leading to a net rating of minus-0.7. Oklahoma City also allowed 107 points per 100 possesions after the All-Star break, which happens to coincide with Kanter's post-trade deadline arrival. Prior to the All-Star break, that number was at 101 per 100 possessions, and that's with half of the roster missing time with injuries. 

Additionally, Kanter's gaudy offensive numbers came under head coach Scott Brooks, who was fired after the season. Billy Donovan is now the club's new boss, and he has no reason to respect old arrangements. In an interview with ESPN.com's Royce Young, Donovan said the Big Three are the only locks in his starting rotation at the moment: 

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I haven't really had much of a chance to do much with that right now, in terms of getting into that. I think as we get closer to September I'll have a little bit more of a chance to talk with the guys. Certainly Russell, and Kevin and Serge.

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With the pressure to contend immediately in Kevin Durant's contract year, Donovan can't let player salary dictate how he allocates minutes. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors have had success bringing starter-quality talent off the bench, and the Thunder would be wise to follow that blueprint.

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Andre Iguodala was a starter for the first 10 years of his NBA career. Last season, new Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opted to bring Iguodala off the bench, meaning the team would be paying nearly $12.3 million for a sixth man.

The 30-year-old admitted to USA Today's Sam Amick in November 2014 that the move to a reserve role took some adjustment: "I mean I've been playing basketball since I was five, and you're just so used to just starting the game. Even when you're young, it's 'Starters vs. Scrubs.' That was kind of the (mentality)." 

Fortunately, Kerr's experiment worked out, and Iguodala helped strengthen arguably the best second unit in basketball, while new starter Harrison Barnes had the best season of his career: 10.1 points, 5.5 boards, 48.2 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from the three-point line. Most importantly, getting everyone to buy into their role was a key reason behind the Warriors becoming NBA champions for the first time in 40 years. 

Jamal Crawford is another example of someone who made the transition from productive starter to valuable sixth man. Since first embracing the role in 2009-10 with the Atlanta Hawks, Crawford has been one of the game's best reserves and earned two Sixth Man of the Year awards. His willingness to provide an offensive spark off the bench allows the Los Angeles Clippers to balance out their offensive attack. 

Kanter's situation would be a little different because it's rare for big men to have a sixth-man role. On top of that, Kanter will make almost as much in 2015-16 ($16.4 million, per Basketball Insiders) as Crawford and Iguodala combined ($17.4 million). 

However, during his exit interview last season, Kanter said he's willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win, even if it means not starting:

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It's not my decision. It's the coach's decision. He's the one who is making those decisions. I'm just OK with everything. I just want to help this team win. Every minute I'm on the floor if I'm playing, if I'm playing zero minutes, I just want this team to succeed and get wins.

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According to NBA.com, Kanter received 58.3 touches per game with the Thunder last season. To put that number in better perspective, established low-post scorers such as Dwight Howard (52.8), Zach Randolph (54.3) and Al Jefferson (44.7) averaged fewer than that. 

Of course, Kanter was able to take a bigger offensive role in OKC because Durant was out for almost all of the second half and Serge Ibaka went down in March. With Durant, Ibaka and Russell Westbrook all back healthy, there is no chance Kanter will see that same workload in the starting lineup.

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

If Kanter is leading the charge off the bench, who is going to stand in the big fella's way? Neither Nick Collison nor Andre Roberson offer much on the offensive end. D.J. Augustin averaged just 2.5 field-goal attempts per game in OKC. Mitch McGary is still adjusting to the pro game. Kyle Singler isn't going to see a ton of action behind Durant. 

That leaves only Dion Waiters as Kanter's main competition for offensive opportunities. As a strictly offensive-minded center, wouldn't it be better to play a two-man game with Waiters than to be a third or fourth option behind Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka?

With the Big Three healthy, the Thunder starting five won't lack offensive firepower. What the team does need is someone who can protect the paint and hold his ground against elite Western Conference frontcourts like the Spurs, Warriors and Clippers. Ibaka is one of the game's best rim protectors, but he can't do it alone. 

That's where having Adams in the starting lineup comes in. 

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Thunder allowed just 102.9 points per 100 possessions with the big Kiwi on the floor, as opposed to 103.4 when he was on the bench, per NBA.com. Furthermore, his defensive rating of 104 was the third-best among players on the current Thunder roster, and he held opponents to a respectable 44.1 percent shooting from the field.

Assigning Kanter to the second unit keeps the Thunder from bringing out all of its big guns at once. When Durant and Westbrook need a breather, the club can unleash Kanter to keep the offensive momentum going. Otherwise, OKC would be putting all of its eggs in Waiters' inconsistent basket. In addition to staggering KD's and Russ' minutes, bringing Kanter off the bench would allow the Thunder to get more bang for their buck.

The key for Donovan, much like Kerr with Iguodala, is getting Kanter to accept a new role. A large part of Kanter's frustration with the Utah Jazz had to do with the way he was utilized, and that led to Kanter ultimately desiring a trade away from Utah. 

Ultimately, if Kanter is as committed to winning as he said he is during his exit interview, he'll prove it by willingly accepting any role Donovan gives him. 

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The Oklahoma City Thunder's decision to re-sign Enes Kanter was more of a luxury than a necessity. The team managed to attain success in the past without an offensive-minded center, and Kevin Durant reuniting with Russell Westbrook should give OKC more than enough weaponry on offense. 

Now that Kanter has been paid handsomely, the next step is proving the team can win with him on the roster. The best way to do that is accepting a sixth-man role, which would allow the Thunder to have the kind of balance they haven't had in years past. 

Kanter's willingness to make that sacrifice will be a storyline to watch in what will be a pivotal season for Oklahoma City. He will either become the team's newest weapon or its latest headache.