New York Knicks: Enes Kanter decision will define immediate future

Enes Kanter has a player option for the 2018-19 season. The decision that he and the New York Knicks make will define the immediate future.

When the New York Knicks acquired Enes Kanter, few knew what to expect. Kanter was a fan favorite with the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as a per 36 superstar, but his playing time was limited, to say the least.

Over the course of the 2017-18 regular season, however, Kanter became a fan favorite and established himself as one of the most productive players on the Knicks.

Kanter finished the 2017-18 season with averages of 14.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.9 offensive boards, and 1.5 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. He did so with tremendous efficiency, shooting 59.2 percent from the field and 84.8 percent from the charity stripe.

All in all, it was a career-year from Kanter, who benefited from opportunities that no other franchise had previously provided him with.

For as well as he played, however, there’s a reality that must be acknowledged: There isn’t an obvious decision to be made here.

Kanter has a player option for the 2018-19 season that would pay him upwards of $18.6 million. Most believe that said figure is well above the average base salary he’d receive if he were to opt out this coming summer.

Nevertheless, Kanter could prioritize job security due to the physically nature of his game and the basic math that states he can receive more money over the course of a long-term deal.

As for the Knicks, Kanter opting in or opting out is only a part of the puzzle that Scott Perry and Steve Mills must piece together.

If Kanter opts in, the Knicks would be well-off in the sense that they could prepare to have $18,622,513 come off the books in 2019. If he opts out, however, the question then becomes a matter of whether or not the organization can afford to re-sign him with an eye on long-term cap space.

Being a fan favorite and a double-double machine helps, but the Knicks must also consider that Kanter struggles to defend modern bigs. With Kristaps Porzingis coming off of a severe knee injury, that must at least be taken into consideration.

Committing long-term money to a player who doesn’t protect the paint or defend sharpshooting bigs would mean continuing to stretch Porzingis thin.

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Regardless of what the New York Knicks decide to do, signing Enes Kanter or letting him walk will define the immediate future.