New York Knicks: Pros and cons of trading Enes Kanter
New York Knicks center Enes Kanter has garnered trade interest. These are the pros and cons to both keeping and trading him.
Over the past few days, reports have surfaced that teams have contacted the New York Knicks to express interest in big man Enes Kanter. No one knows if the Knicks are even willing to trade their beloved big man, but it definitely couldn’t hurt to scour the trade market.
After all, the Knicks have a logjam at the center position, and with Kanter having arguably the best season of his eight-year career, he might fetch the Knicks a nice return.
Here are some of the pros and cons to weigh if the Knicks’ front office is seriously considering dealing Kanter.
Pro: Hefty Return
With averages of 13.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, Kanter is having arguably his best season as a pro, which should drum up his trade value tremendously. There are definitely teams that could use Kanter’s services, whether that be as a starter or a sixth man.
He’s become a beast in the paint, and there aren’t many big men in the league who can match his physicality down low.
Teams in the playoff picture could use a guy like Kanter down the stretch of the season, with the hope he’ll help them come playoff time. Teams looking to buy at the deadline may be willing to send the Knicks a combination of young talent or draft picks.
It probably wouldn’t be a blockbuster trade, but given how the Knicks are in the beginning stages of a rebuild, gaining as much youth as possible should be a goal of theirs.
Con: Trading A Team Leader
Not only has Kanter played well on the court, but as one of the veterans on the squad, he’s embraced his leadership role. Early in the season, Kanter was showing support for rookie Frank Ntilikina both on and off the court.
He got in the face of LeBron James. He gave the Knicks a level of confidence that allowed them to not be afraid of anybody on the court.
For the Knicks to trade someone who has done so much for the other guys on the roster would undoubtedly upset the rest of the team.
All of a sudden it puts more pressure on someone like Kristaps Porzingis to show some more leadership skills—something that may be too much to ask this early in his career.
Pro: More Playing Time For Willy Hernangomez
After making the All-Rookie First Team last season, many were projecting Hernangomez to be the starting center headed into this season. Even with both Joakim Noah and Kyle O’Quinn on the roster, it looked like Hernangomez had done enough to earn the starting spot.
Once the Knicks acquired Kanter in the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was clear that Hernangomez wouldn’t be getting the minutes he expected.
What’s been surprising is that Hernangomez hasn’t been able to crack the rotation, getting stuck behind Kanter and O’Quinn. Moving Kanter would free up some minutes for the young center.
That’s something the Knicks should at least consider given their supposed rebuild.
Con: Loved By Knicks Fans
Knicks fans have always loved players who represent New York City. They love blue-collar, hard-nosed tough guys who bring physicality to the court and refuse to back down from anyone.
On this current Knicks team, no one represents that more than Kanter.
To see him go would be upsetting for Knicks fans, because Kanter embraces being a Knick, even saying that he want’s to end his career in New York. Knicks fans have connected to Kanter, and there’s almost no way they’d be satisfied with who they get back.
There would be some Knicks fans who’d understand the possible trade of Kanter, citing his questionable fit with the future of the Knicks. But others would be upset, citing Kanter’s loyalty to the organization—something that wouldn’t be reciprocated with the trade.
Knicks fans have been very shortsighted in the past with some past moves by the front office. Trading Kanter most likely won’t buck that trend.
Pro: Guaranteed Cap Relief
Enes Kanter is making just under $17.9 million this season, and will be owed $18.6 million if he’s back in New York next year. He has a player option for the 2018-19 season, and most admittedly believe that he’ll decline it to become an unrestricted free agent.
Even if that does happen, Kanter’s price tag will only increase if he continues to perform at a high level.
With the Knicks already strapped to the contracts of both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Joakim Noah, and with Porzingis’ inevitable pay raise on the horizon, the Knicks would be better served to use that money to either maintain financial flexibility moving forward or to use it to acquire new talent.
Ideally, that talent would better fit the timeline of Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina.
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It would be tough to see Enes Kanter go, but there are pros and cons for the New York Knicks to consider.