Thunderous Intentions
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Enes Kanter: OKC Thunder Season in Review

By Casimir Cuffy

Jan 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) reacts after a play when he was hit in the mouth against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) reacts after a play when he was hit in the mouth against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) looks up in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) looks up in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Enes Kanter is fixing to face his most confusing offseason yet. The trade rumors are at an all-time high and he knows as much.

OKC is in a tough position this offseason. This team can not afford tissue paper, let alone a decent player to come in and put them over the top. They also can not afford to trot out this same team next season hoping for a different result. This means that Sam Presti has to get creative with how he is going to make this team better.

Kanter is set to make $17.8 million next season with a player option for $18.6 million the following season. That’s a lot of money being spent for a liability. Enes loves the city, loves the team, and loves the fans; but he is quite possibly the biggest trade chip for roster improvement. Shedding his contract for a guard/wing player that can contribute or a draft pick would be a successful swap.

Is Kanter a part of the core?

In today’s NBA having two bigs on the court can lead to a slow and painful death. We saw in the Houston series that playing a big man like Kanter, who doesn’t have good foot speed or lateral quickness, is problematic. Four players are taking up most of OKC’s cap space heading into next season. Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Steven Adams, and Enes Kanter will all make above $17.8 million. Kanter is clearly the most movable player on that list.

The Thunder will also have a log-jam at power forwards if they decide to keep Taj Gibson. Keeping Kanter on the team could stunt the growth of Domantas Sabonis, who can do some of the same things that Enes can do on the offensive side of the ball.

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I fully expect Kanter to be traded this offseason, it just makes too much sense financially and logically. However, if he is not traded and remains with the team then he has drastic improvements to make. It is an advantage to have a power forward who can stretch the floor while on offense. Kanter has the tools to do that exact thing. Should he spend this offseason improving his outside shot, he will become an even more offensive all-around force.

Improvements on defense aren’t going to come easily, if at all. Kanter said in his exit interview that he plans on working on his lower body a lot this offseason. Maybe that can improve his quickness, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

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