Report: Enes Kanter to sign $70M offer sheet with Trail Blazers; Thunder intend to match
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Having lost power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the Portland Trail Blazers are scrambling desperately to fill the void.
One potential addition to Portland's frontcourt is restricted free-agent center Enes Kanter. The two sides are preparing to sign an offer sheet, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Kanter will be paid the maximum of $70 million over four years, per Wojnarowski. The deal will also include a trade kicker.
The Thunder can match any offer that Kanter signs and that's their intention.
Before free agency began, Thunder president Sam Presti praised Kanter in an interview with The Oklahoman.
"Enes is someone we are committed to seeing in a Thunder uniform moving forward," Presti said.
In response to the reported offer sheet, Presti reaffirmed his wishes to retain Kanter.
Was able to catch up with Sam Presti. His comment on the reported Enes Kanter offer sheet: pic.twitter.com/bNjcjKGoJh
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 9, 2015
The Thunder and Kanter were reportedly discussing a three- or four-year deal worth something "close" to the max (starting at $16.4 million for Kanter), but keeping Kanter at that price risks the luxury tax, something the Thunder have carefully dodged for years.
If the Thunder were to match something close to a maximum deal for Kanter, they might look to shed salary elsewhere.
Here's one scenario from Zach Lowe of Grantland:
OKC will likely match, + then look to deal Novak/Augustin/PJII for $0. But POR is forcing their hand. Lots of teams were rooting for this.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) July 9, 2015
Perhaps the Trail Blazers are just trying to make life difficult for their Northwest Division rivals. Kanter was a pleasant surprise in 26 games with the Thunder, averaging 18.7 points and 11 rebounds on 56.6 percent shooting, but he has been a historically awful defender for his position. It's probably not in the best interest of either team to lock him into an expensive, long-term deal.
The move by Portland is just the latest in a string of questionable decisions this summer. Portland shed four of their five starters and stocked their frontcourt with names like Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu, Mason Plumlee, and Noah Vonleh. Given that crop, it's hard to see Kanter finding enough touches or sufficient minutes.