New York Knicks: Five reasons to love trading for Enes Kanter

The New York Knicks have traded Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott. Why should you love the acquisition of Kanter?

The New York Knicks have officially ended an era. After months of speculation—and seven years of revitalizing success and a polarizing aftermath—the Knicks have moved on from 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks have granted Anthony’s request by trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a draft pick.

With mere days until training camp begins, the Knicks made a move that will forever alter the landscape and trajectory of the organization.

While the conversation is likely to be about Anthony, the Knicks acquired a promising young talent in Kanter. At 25 years of age, the Turkish big man has shown flashes of brilliance that have resulted in many pondering if he can one day realize his All-Star potential.

Adding a big man wasn’t necessarily a need for the Knicks, but it appears as though the front office sees something special in Kanter.

Some could question if this trade equates to an even exchange, as Kanter is essentially the focal point of a trade for a six-time All-NBA honoree. Regardless of which side of that debate you end up on, one thing is clear: New York acquired a talented young big man.

The question is: Why should you love the New York Knicks trading for Enes Kanter?

5. Post Play

Kristaps Porzingis is a gifted shooter who can occasionally go to the post with an arsenal of throwback moves. Aside from second-year big man Willy Hernangomez, however, the New York Knicks don’t have a player who can consistently play with their back to the basket.

By acquiring Enes Kanter, the Knicks have added a player who’s not only capable of backing his man down, but ranks amongst league’s elite in that regard.

Kanter was once a little rigid in the post, but he’s improved his fluidity and footwork as his career has progressed. That should continue to transpire in New York, where he’ll be pushed by Hernangomez in the race for the starting job at center.

If Kanter refuses to remain complacent, then it stands to reason that he could continue developing into one of the best post players in the NBA.

It’s worth noting that, despite averaging just 21.3 minutes per contest in 2016-17, Kanter ranked No. 5 in the NBA in points via post ups per game. He did so on 57.6 percent shooting from the post, which is a higher figure than those amassed by any of the four players ahead of him.

The Knicks have acquired one of the best post players in the NBA, and that alone is reason to be excited about what he can achieve.

4. Rebounding

The New York Knicks project to be one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis will be trusted to increase his output on the defensive glass, but if all goes according to plan, New York should dominate the boards.

Other roster moves could still be in the works, but between Willy Hernangomez, Enes Kanter, Joakim Noah, and Kyle O’Quinn, the Knicks have four elite rebounders down low.

Kanter brings career averages of 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 defensive rebounds, and 2.7 offensive boards in 21.3 minutes per game to New York. Those numbers translate to 11.4 rebounds, 6.9 defensive boards, and 4.5 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes.

Kanter needs to improve his consistency on the defensive glass—like most other Knicks big men—but he’s elite offensively.

Having another player who can consistently create second chances should alleviate pressure on both ends of the floor. Additional possessions on offense mean fewer possessions on defense, and offensive rebounds mean more chances to run and learn plays.

Kanter should make it a point to dominate the defensive glass if he wants to realize his potential, but he’s proven that he has the nose for the ball to do so.

3. Pick And Roll Proficiency

The New York Knicks lost the best isolation scorer on the roster in Carmelo Anthony. Thus, as the team transitions to playing through Kristaps Porzingis, it will need to simplify the game by creating efficient looks around him.

There’s no better way to account for the loss of the primary isolation scorer than to add a player who specializes in one of the most efficient scoring methods: The pick and roll.

Enes Kanter finished the 2016-17 season with an average of 4.9 points per 36 minutes off of the pick and roll. He also averaged 1.14 points per play via the pick in roll in 2016-17, which ranked No. 16 in the Association.

Considering Kanter played on a team with lackluster spacing, it stands to reason that his production could have been even better without the opposition’s steady anticipation of the play.

It’s also worth noting that incoming rookie Frank Ntilikina spoke about how European players run the pick and roll differently than Americans. Ntilikina will now have a chance to execute that play with one of the better pick and roll finishers in the NBA.

Between Kanter and Willy Hernangomez, the Knicks now have two centers who can consistently post up, crash the boards, and exploit defenses via the pick and roll.

2. Untapped Potential + Fitting The Timeline

The New York Knicks have wholeheartedly embraced a youth movement. At 25 years of age, Enes Kanter fits the bill of a youth movement as a talented offensive player and rebounder who still has room—and time—to improve.

Kanter has shown flashes of legitimate star potential, and the Knicks will now have an opportunity to explore how good he could become.

Kanter’s untapped potential is firmly established by his gaudy per 36 averages. Those numbers translate to 19.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.5 offensive boards, and 1.0 assist on 53.0 percent shooting from the field and 76.8 percent shooting from the free throw line.

Over the past three seasons, those numbers have jumped to 21.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.8 offensive rebounds, and 1.0 assist on a slash line of .544/.298/.788.

When Kanter has been given playing time, he’s consistently produced double-doubles and dominated the offensive glass. He’s a borderline elite pick and roll finisher, has an improving jump shot, and can confidently play from the post.

Considering Kanter has lost considerable weight during the 2017 offseason, it stands to reason that New York could help him realize his potential.

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.

Must Read: Realistic goals for Willy Hernangomez in 2017-18

Losing Carmelo Anthony was tough, but the New York Knicks have found a promising young talent in Enes Kanter.