Knicks Rumors: Enes Kanter to Swap Agents, Likely to Sign with Mark Bartelstein

New York Knicks center Enes Kanter will reportedly switch agents and sign with Priority Sports' Mark Bartelstein, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. 

Per that report, Kanter will remain with Maestro Sports for "other endeavors," but will bring aboard Bartelstein for the basketball side of his career.

Kanter's hope is to increase his endorsements, citing a lack thereof in part because of his extremely contentious relationship with his home country of Turkey and its president, Tayyip Erdogan.

"That’s why I'm signing with him. Maybe he'll get me something," he said, per Berman. "I make almost no money off the court because of the Turkish stuff. Most American companies are scared to give me any contract because what’s going on with Turkey. Maybe with a new agent I'll get some Chinese, Philippines shoe deal."

Kanter stressed the importance of having an agent, though he maintained that nothing is finalized.

"It's important. I'm a basketball player. I need someone to represent me," he said. "I heard some good thing about the Mark guy. I haven't signed anything yet."

He certainly will have a big decision to make this offseason. Kanter, 25, has a player option for $18.6 million next season with the Knicks, per Spotrac.com, and could seek to become a free agent. While Kanter may not get a long-term deal offering that kind of yearly salary, he could take his chances on the market.

This season, he's averaging 14 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, serving as the Knicks' starting center after coming off Oklahoma City's bench in recent years. His age and ability to score on the block are attractive qualities, though his lack of rim-protection and perimeter shooting will likely limit his value on the open market.  

So it will be Bartelstein's job, in part, to help him make that decision this summer.