1. Complementing Kristaps Porzingis
Nothing matters more for the New York Knicks than finding players who ideally complement Kristaps Porzingis. By trading for Enes Kanter, the Knicks have done exactly that by essentially finding the player who’s Porzingis’ antithesis.
While Porzingis is a perimeter-oriented big man who’s beginning to work his way inside, Kanter checks the boxes of everything he may still struggle with.
While Porzingis converts from beyond the arc, Kanter will post players up and work the pick and roll—both of which he’ll have the necessary space for. While Porzingis skies in for a putback dunk, Kanter will be doing the dirty work with physical boxouts.
Together, Kanter and Porzingis should give opposing defenses fits with their ability to perfectly complement one another’s strengths and weaknesses.
In order for this to truly work, however, Kanter must step up on the defensive end of the floor. He doesn’t need to become Marc Gasol or Anthony Davis, but he must at least dominate the defensive boards and adequately defend stretch 4s.
If Kanter puts in the work and executes to that extent, then he could help New York simplify the game for Porzingis on both ends of the floor.
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Losing Carmelo Anthony was tough, but the New York Knicks have found a promising young talent in Enes Kanter.