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Enes Kanter Trade Working Out For Him And The Jazz

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Enes Kanter
Mar 3, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) celebrates with guards Dante Exum (11) and Gordon Hayward (20) after a score against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at FedExForum. Utah defeated Memphis 93-82. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

From Utah’s Perspective:

If you weren’t reading this article, or if you weren’t a big Jazz fan, you’d be hard-pressed to guess who has the best record since the trade deadline. Ever since trading away Enes Kanter, that team is the Utah Jazz, quietly posting a record of 11-3 after starting the season 19-34. You want to talk about addition by subtraction? Look no further than the the 2014-15 Jazz, the NBA’s hottest team.

By looking at the numbers, you’d think that Enes Kanter was the world’s biggest basketball cancer. Ever since he was traded and Rudy Gobert was promoted to starting center, the Jazz have been the NBA’s most stifling defense, holding opponents to an absurd 83.1 points per game and 90.1 points per 100 possessions — the best marks in the league during that span.

Before the Kanter trade, Utah’s defense surrendered 98.2 points per game (10th) and 106.1 points per 100 possessions (27th). They’re still surrendering rebounds to opponents at roughly the same rate as before, but they’ve gone from averaging 42.9 boards per game (17th) to 49.0 per game (second).

We’ll get to Gobert’s numbers in a bit, but it’s worth noting that before the trade, the Jazz were giving up 45.8 percent shooting to opponents (23rd). Since the deal, they’ve limited opponents to 39.0 percent shooting (first). In the process, their plus/minus has gone from -2.4 to +8.8 — an absurd 11-point swing.

But wait, there’s more! Take a look at some other noteworthy stats that have turned in Utah’s favor since shipping away Kanter:

  • Net Rating:  -3.1 (21st) → +10.5 (first)
  • Defensive Rebounding Percentage:  75.4 percent (10th) → 78.4 percent (second)
  • Opposing Points In The Paint:  40.2 points per game (10th lowest) → 35.3 points per game (second lowest)

It hasn’t all been perfect since Gobert replaced Kanter in the starting lineup. The Stifle Tower, for all his defensive advantages, is nowhere near as polished offensively, which might explain why Utah’s offensive rating has dropped from 102.9 (15th) before the trade to 100.7 (16th) after the fact.

Kanter was also a much more effective post scorer, so it’s no surprise the Jazz went from averaging 43.1 points in the paint (14th) to 38.4 points in the paint (22nd). But there’s been no rebounding drop-off since the deal and Gobert has helped transform the young Jazz from a good defense into an elite one.

Kanter, a restricted free agent this summer, is sure to command a big contract from somebody. By acquiescing his desire to be dealt away, the Jazz preserved their cap space and promoted a 22-year-old to a starting position, where he has thrived and is showing immediate signs of being one of the most improved players in the NBA.

For the Jazz, the future is already much brighter, even if Gobert may never spread the floor the way that Kanter did.

Next: From OKC's Perspective