The Oklahoma City Thunder took three days to do the inevitable.
After the Portland Trail Blazers offered big man Enes Kanter a four-year, $70 million offer sheet Thursday, the Thunder matched it Sunday. The 23-year-old officially signed Monday.
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https://twitter.com/Enes_Kanter/status/620708432887152640
Whether the Thunder were going to match the Blazers offer sheet was one of the biggest storylines left during the tail end of a hectic free agency period. But from the beginning, all reports and statements from GM Sam Presti indicated the Thunder weren’t going to let Kanter walk–no matter what they had to match.
No matter what you think of Kanter’s game, it is hard to really blame the Thunder. ESPN’s Royce Young has been a big defender (no pun intended) of Kanter’s unique skill at a young age, while acknowledging the defensive flaws, Young says Kanter’s deal won’t hurt the long-term plans or the franchise and more importantly, the pending free agency of Kevin Durant next offseason.
"There’s no question paying Kanter this amount is going to run the Thunder a hefty bar tab. But it’s for one year because with the salary cap projected to be around $90 million for the 2016-17 season (which would have the luxury tax threshold around $104.5 million), the Thunder will actually be under the tax, even after potentially re-signing Kevin Durant to a max deal worth 30 percent of their cap. (via ESPN)"
The rising tax certainly makes the deal less cringeworthy then when you turn to Kanter’s defense. He has been dubbed by most as the worst defensive starting center in the league. Before the Thunder decided to pay Kanter, I was skeptical. I still am, but it is not hard to know why Presti and the Thunder went this route.
Centers as offensively skilled as Kanter aren’t walking around and he adds spice to a team dialed in on predictable isolations too often. He can add an element most teams in the league cannot match. Also, 23 year olds are rarely good at defense. I am not comparing the two, but the leap Durant made as a 23-year-old to his MVP season at 25 was quite noticeable.
Or James Harden from last year to this year. Kanter’s cement feet struggle to glide against the hardwood floor, but when his effort and knowledge pick up, he will improve (I think).
Young also brought up a really good point with Kanter’s role on the Thunder.
"Although he is going to be paid exceptionally well, the Thunder view Kanter not as a franchise piece but as a luxury. He’ll likely come off the bench to provide offensive firepower in the Thunder’s second unit. The Thunder are interested in trying to stagger Durant and Westbrook’s minutes more in the future, and with the chemistry Kanter had with Westbrook in the pick-and-roll, a lineup anchored by the duo could be a strong counter while Durant rests. (via ESPN)"
I had not seen this idea floating around. At all. I love this. One of the biggest complaints about the Thunder over the last few years was how Scott Brooks staggered minutes. Newly hired head coach Billy Donovan will have many options if he decides to bring Kanter off the bench.
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Imagine at the four or five minute mark of the first quarter, the Thunder take out Steven Adams and go with Kanter-Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka-Anthony Morrow(?). Whew. Not sure a single defensive unit in the league can keep up with that lineup.
Sure, your defense will struggle, but if you only play that lineup, or something close to it, eight to 10 minutes a game, I don’t think the Thunder will be hurtin’.
The question is if Kanter will be willing to come off the bench. It is hard to tell a 23-year-old who just signed for that type of money he will be on the bench for opening tip. Kanter has had locker room problems in the past, but that seems to something he left in Utah.
I really think him as ultra-talented role player could be what is best for the Thunder and Donovan shouldn’t worried about who just got paid.
The Thunder shocked no one by matching the Blazers offer sheet, but it could be a bit of a surprise if he comes off the bench–a move that may be the make the Thunder even more dynamic.
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