After being released by the Knicks last week, Enes Kanter has lined up a new NBA home, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, Kanter and the Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement on a deal.
Kanter confirmed the news, tweeting he’s signing with Portland for the remainder of the season. Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter) the Trail Blazers beat out multiple suitors, including the Lakers, for Kanter.
"I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship," Kanter wrote on his social media Twitter feed. "Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans.
"It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level! Let’s go Rip City."
Things have gone full circle between Kanter and the Blazers, who originally signed him to a four-year, $70M offer sheet during 2015’s free-agent period. The Thunder matched that offer and retained Kanter, then later traded him to the Knicks. The veteran center was in the final year of that four-year contract this season before New York waived him, allowing him to return to the free-agent market.
The Blazers roster looks much different than it did in 2015, and the role Kanter will play probably won’t be the same as the one the team envisioned four years ago. However, he’s expected to see a “good share of minutes” in Portland, according to Wojnarowski. The 26-year-old Kanter figures to slot in as Jusuf Nurkic‘s backup at the five, perhaps cutting into playing time for Meyers Leonard or Zach Collins.
While Kanter was ultimately removed the Knicks’ rotation in recent weeks as the team prioritized developing its youth, he was productive in his 44 games this season, posting a double-double (14.0 PPG and 10.5 RPG) in just 25.6 minutes per game.
The Blazers won’t have to make a corresponding roster move to officially sign Kanter, since they had an open roster spot.
