Views from OKC is a public diary from an OKC Thunder fan. Today we take a look at the recent events surrounding Enes Kanter.
Miss me? Because I missed you. I 100% enjoyed going off the grid for four days (who doesn’t enjoy a nice wedding cruise), but at the same time I 100% missed not knowing what was going on in the outside world. But enough about me, we’re here to talk Enes Kanter.
I’ve talked extensively about how the Thunder need to trade Kanter this offseason. The move makes sense as a basketball/financial decision, but the NBA is more than just basketball. It’s about the fans, the people who buy the merchandise and go to games. And after everything Kanter has been through, everything he’s said in the past couple of days (let alone years), trading him may be impossible.
Just look at the reactions from our Facebook page whenever the idea is brought up.
The last few days have given Kanter a bigger platform than he’s ever had. His fight against Recep Erdogan and the Turkish government reached the national spotlight when Erdogan had his passport suspended during Kanter’s extended world tour. Kanter first made his story known on Twitter, which led him to appear on CBS This Morning on Monday. But it was his interview with the kings of late night television (at least in my books) that really encapsulated what happened.
Kanter has always been vocal about his love for the Unites States, especially Oklahoma City. When Desus & Mero ask him what there is to do in OKC he doesn’t try to fluff anything: he can’t go out much because he and the rest of the Thunder are such celebrities so it’s the perfect place to focus on basketball. He talks about how crazy the fans are and how much love he feels from them, the same things we all have heard for 2+ seasons now. But now that message (and the more important situation regarding Erdogan) is out to everyone.
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OKC Thunder fans will not be happy if Enes Kanter is traded. It doesn’t matter if they get LeBron James straight up for the big man – Kanter just means too much to this community. He’s become a bastion of hope for an area that hears nothing but negatives from outsiders. If a 6’11 man raised in Turkey can feel this type of love for Midwestern America, anybody can.
So now Sam Presti has a difficult decision to make. Kanter could be a free agent next offseason if he declines his player option. The Thunder have a plethora of bigs. Kanter doesn’t fit the playing style Billy Donovan needs to build around Russell Westbrook. But he has the love of every Oklahoma City Thunder fan in the world.
Sorry Sam, it’s a shame you only bring in high quality human beings. All I can say is take Enes’ main advice through this entire ordeal.
Stand for what you believe in.