Enes Kanter wants to play the rest of his career with the New York Knicks, but he won’t commit to opting in to the final year of his contract. Nor should he.
The New York Knicks have found a new fan favorite in starting center Enes Kanter. Kanter embodies many traits of the Knicks stars of the 1990s, with a never-say-die attitude and a level of physicality that’s garnered comparisons to Charles Oakley.
There are still concerns about his defense, but the general consensus is that Kanter has a place in the Knicks’ plans for a sustainably successful future.
As New York’s postseason dreams become afterthoughts, attention is now being turned to Kanter’s place with the organization. He’s committed to the Knicks in many regards, stating that he wants to retire as a member of the organization.
According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Kanter doubled down on his recent comments that he wants to spend the rest of his career with the Knicks.
"“This is the place I want to be,” Kanter said. “I’ve said it from the beginning because I know the organization. I love the city, lot of Turkish people. With KP or without KP, I want to be here for sure.”"
Kanter is committed to playing for New York until the end of his career, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to opt in to the final year of his contract.
"“I’m not saying I’m opting in or opting out,” Kanter said. “I’m going to focus on this season, finish this season. I don’t even have an agent yet. I’ll get an agent first and talk to him about [it].”"
If that rubs you the wrong way, it shouldn’t; there’s no reason for Kanter to opt in for the 2018-19 season if he can sign a long-term deal this coming summer.
NBA careers are safer and more protected than most in other sports due to the presence of guaranteed contracts. An injury can end a career as soon as it begins to gain a head of steam, however, which is why players rarely accept their player options.
Rather than opting in for one season’s worth of money, players are far more inclined to sign a multi-year deal that will give them a sense of job security.
Thus, if Kanter opts against accepting his player option, Knicks fans wouldn’t have much reason—if any—to be upset with him.
Kanter has a chance to sign a long-term deal with the Knicks during the 2018 offseason. It would be a rational decision, as Kanter has become a double-double machine with averages of 14.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just 26.0 minutes per game.
It’s possible that Kanter will accept his player option to help the Knicks preserve cap space for the 2019 offseason, when New York would have his bird rights and could go into the luxury tax to re-sign him.
That would enable the Knicks to not only re-sign Kanter, but add another high-profile player to the roster.
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Enes Kanter has no obligation to do so, however, and New York Knicks fans shouldn’t be discouraged or upset if he declines his player option.