According to TNT’s David Aldridge and Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, the Portland Trail Blazers have signed restricted free agent Enes Kanter to a four-year, $70 million offer sheet.
OKC's Enes Kanter is in Portland, preparing to sign an offer sheet with Blazers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2015
With lots of cap room post-LaMarcus, Blazers putting an offer sheet on Thunder RFA center Enes Kanter, per sources.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) July 9, 2015
With gobs of cap space available since losing Lamarcus Aldridge to San Antonio, the Blazers have leapt into the fray for one of the last big impact free agents available in the market before settling into their rebuilding plan.
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At first glance, this max offer sheet for another big man appears to be redundant, considering the Blazers already have Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh, Chris Kaman, and Meyers Leonard in the frontcourt. However, Kaman is in the final year of his contract and Leonard, Vonleh, and Plumlee are all still unproven, developing talents.
Kanter’s defensive woes have been well documented, but he is a legitimate offensive weapon capable at times of drawing a double-team and getting good looks on post-up possessions. With all the offensive production the Blazers have lost this summer in free agency, the team will need every bit of help they can get for Damian Lillard.
While acquiring the Turkish big man is a possibility, the more likely scenario is that the Oklahoma City Thunder will utilize Kanter’s status as a restricted free agent to match Portland’s offer and retain him and see how he fits alongside a healthy Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Blazers would be equally, if not more, pleased with this scenario as it would vault OKC above the luxury tax this season and limit the team’s roster options going forward.
No matter the outcome, general manager Neil Olshey has made a bold move that will have a significant impact on the Western Conference this season.
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