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Should The Oklahoma City Thunder Match Portland’s Offer For Enes Kanter?

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts from the bench area during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts from the bench area during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Enes Kanter
Mar 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts from the bench area during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oklahoma City Thunder are officially on the clock. They’ve been on the clock since their season ended with a Russell Westbrook-led squad falling just short of the playoffs. That clock is ticking toward the start of another season where OKC hopes injuries don’t derail its title aspirations. It’s ticking toward next summer, when Kevin Durant becomes a free agent.

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But most immediately, the clock is ticking toward the 72-hour mark, when the Thunder have to decide whether or not to match a four-year, $70 million max offer for restricted free agent Enes Kanter.

According to Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman, general manager Sam Presti is planning on matching the Portland Trail Blazers’ offer to retain Kanter, despite the massive luxury tax implications.

The question is, should Presti be so gung-ho about re-signing the young Turk? Since the Thunder will likely make the Blazers sweat it out all the way until they have to act on Sunday — thereby tying up Portland’s cap space for three days — we might as well explore whether OKC’s inevitable decision to match Enes Kanter’s max offer is the right one.

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