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New York Knicks: Enes Kanter provides free agent endorsement

By Rob Wolkenbrod

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 07: Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks reacts after making a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on November 7, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 07: Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks reacts after making a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on November 7, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Despite problems with the New York Knicks, Enes Kanter provided an eye-opening endorsement for free agents to play in the Big Apple.

Enes Kanter left the New York Knicks amid controversy with his playing time. Head coach David Fizdale reduced it throughout the 2018-19 season, leading to multiple absences via coach’s decision once January arrived. Mitchell Robinson, Luke Kornet and DeAndre Jordan all played ahead of the 26 year old.

After the Feb. 7 trade deadline, Kanter was waived. He eventually signed with the Portland Trail Blazers for the rest of the season, with a role in the frontcourt next to Jusuf Nurkic, Meyers Leonard and other big men in the Northwest.

Before the Turkish center left New York, he predicted the Knicks will sign a big name in free agency this summer. It was eye-opening for a player, that had voiced criticism over not playing multiple times, to share this

Now out the door, Kanter iterated his endorsement for top players to sign with his former team in free agency and said they have a “really good chance” at reeling in one of them, according to sportswriter Brian Heyman.

Kanter was never one to disregard New York City during his time in the blue and orange, however. He praised it multiple times, but losing playing time ended his love affair for the Big Apple.

The Knicks have been connected to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving throughout the season, similar to LeBron James‘ link to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18 when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Speculation has not disappeared for either player, even with the Warriors’ championship aspirations and the Celtics’ talented core around Irving, who was traded to Boston in 2017 to become their focal point amid fallout in Cleveland.

Free agents don’t stop with them, either. Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler can also hit the open market in July. Some of them have player options, but also the prospect of lucrative deals that place them among the NBA’s highest-paid players.

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Will the Knicks acquire one of them? How about two of them? They have $70 million in cap space to make this a top-heavy roster of talent and fulfill Kanter’s surprise praise of the past few weeks. Over four months remain until this can come to fruition, and with 24 games to play, Knicks fans must wait for the talk to end and the actions to happen.

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