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Will The Utah Jazz Be Better Without Enes Kanter?

By Michael Tozer

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Contract demands quite often can be the tipping point between player and organization, especially so when those demands are beyond excessive to the naked eye. Much like Oklahoma City with James Harden, Utah elected to not shell out unforeseen amounts of cash that would limit the organization’s ability to be shrewd in their future dealings in the Enes Kanter saga.

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Kanter’s demands reportedly exceeded the range of $10 million. With the emergence of Rudy Gobert, Kanter obviously became immediately expendable. With the team’s cap situation, due to Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward already signed to multi-year contracts that’ll exceed $10 million annually, it was obvious Utah GM Dennis Lindsey had a choice to be make on extending or trading Kanter.

The question revolved around whether the organization would be better off with Rudy Gobert or Enes Kanter.

"“We concede Enes is a very significant player, and he’s going to get a great contract, deservedly so, given his talent and his work ethic. But there’s 20 teams potentially with $10 million or more in room, so there’s some economics there, some supply and demand there.” – Dennis Lindsey"

With Utah being 9 points per 100 possessions better on defense and 19 on offense with Rudy Gobert on the court compared to Enes Kanter, the decision was simple. Plus the Jazz get draft-picks by trading away Kanter, which Dennis Lindsey quite obviously savors, as he now has 16 picks between the 2015-2018 drafts.

Feb 9, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) celebrates with forward Gordon Hayward (20) and guard

Dante Exum

(11) during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Jazz defeated the Pelicans 100-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

In trading Kanter (as well as Steve Novak), the Jazz received a king’s ransom of Grant Jerrett, Kendrick Perkins, Detroit’s 2017 second-rounder, a future first from Oklahoma City dependent on protections and the rights to international big-man Tibor Pleiss.

On paper, this trade looks like highway robbery for the Thunder. Acquiring Kyle Singler and DJ Augustin out of the trade as well, while losing Reggie Jackson further strengthens the concept that Sam Presti came with nothing and escaped with everything at the trade table.

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This trade was a win for the Jazz as well, even though it’s more difficult to realize. Firstly, Steve Novak’s salary of $3.75M for next season comes off the books, opening up extra cap space. Secondly, the Jazz received an unproven commodity in Grant Jerrett.  Jerrett is destined to earn minutes due to Utah’s paper-thin roster, where Lindsey could escape with something after he was simply a filler in the trade.

Thirdly, it’s the two picks. Lindsey has made it known that he’s a fan of picking up second round picks, as it allows him to be canny in trade negotiations, while the potential to strike it rich with a late-pick in the draft increases with added opportunity.

"”You pooh-pooh 2nd round picks until you hit on one… Those are great chips to go to the poker table and make swaps with as well.” – Dennis Lindsey"

The first-round pick isn’t likely to be conveyed until 2017 at the earliest due to Oklahoma City owing Philadelphia their 2015 pick. The pick is likely to be in the mid-20’s, which is decent value for a player that didn’t fit into Utah’s system or their long-term plans.

Much like the Deron Williams trade, the Jazz decided to go for known assets over an asset that could potentially leave for nothing. Lindsey also allowed Utah to escape from Kanter’s poor defense, lack of ball sharing ability and his headache of an agent, Max Ergul.

In terms of the trade, both teams emerged victors.

By trading for Kanter, the Thunder have emerged with a group of young, talented big men that could be considered the best in the league, with Steven Adams, Mitch McGary and Kanter. This doesn’t even include Serge Ibaka, the third-wheel for the Thunder, who’s still only 25.

Kanter will be joining a deep and talented Thunder front-court, where the same offensive freedom that he found in Utah won’t be available. He’ll find his shots easier and more open, mainly due to the attention that Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant receive and partially due to the ball movement. The amount of shots per game he’ll end up taking will be in a lower capacity as a compromise for the higher shot quality.

Feb 24, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) attempts a shot against Indiana Pacers center

Roy Hibbert

(55) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Through three games, this trend is evident. Through 100 possessions compared to his time in Utah, Kanter is averaging 19 shots, which is four less throughout the same time in Utah. This is also without Kevin Durant playing; when he eventually returns from his ailments, Kanter’s role will diminish on offense.

In Oklahoma though to date, Enes is making a higher percentage of his shots through a small sample size of only three games. His field goal percentage is up to 58.1-percent, which would place him fifth in the league if he were able to maintain this efficient level throughout the entirety of the season.

Full credit to Kanter though, as after the three games he’s posted an offensive efficiency of 125 points per 100 possessions (might be a little bit Russell Westbrook), fitting into the Thunder’s offense seamlessly.

Durant and Westbrook are the Thunders’ scorers and Serge Ibaka is potent on this side of the court as well. With this in mind, I feel that Steven Adams should be the main priority for Oklahoma moving forward. Unlike Kanter, who we know from his Jazz days doesn’t possess a rounded defensive game, and is inconsistent at that, Adams is a force to be reckoned with. He rebounds the ball at a high level, plays tough defense, protects the rim and blocks the basketball. He’s everything on defense that Kanter isn’t.

For a team that’s set on offense, which is the strong point of the Thunder, it just doesn’t make sense that the former Jazz big man stays a starter once Adams returns from injury.

Which is sure to disappoint Kanter.

Now that Kanter is gone, the Jazz faithful should be ecstatic. By doing this, Lindsey has committed to the defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert, who’s received a plethora of nicknames due to his knack for highlight plays on defense. From the Stifle Tower to Rudy Gobair, every nickname suits him to a tee.

Feb 11, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward

Dirk Nowitzki

(41) knocks the ball away from Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Jazz 87-82. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

According to the Nylon Calculus rim protection stats, Gobert leads the league in points saved per 36 minutes at the rim at 4.36 per game. Gobert also leads in percentage of opponent field goals made at the rim, only allowing 37.8% of opponents shots to be made. Only in his second season, Gobert is the league’s best rim protector, which is partially due to his incredible seven-foot-eight wingspan and nine-foot-seven standing reach.

Gobert is also second in the league in blocks per 36 minutes, with 3.6, while he’s also 20th in the league in rebounding per 36, with 12.1 rebounds.

Rudy’s offensive game doesn’t extend outside of five feet, only making 5/21 from beyond this range from the rim. He finishes well at the rim however, making 65.9-percent of his shots.

Kanter has the more polished offensive game, but Gobert is the best fit for the Utah system with his stifling style of defense and efficient offense.

Unless the Thunder decide to pay the luxury tax, don’t expect Kanter to re-sign. Ergul will have him asking for too much, leaving him to the wrath of the minnows of the NBA, desperate to gather talent to their squads. In my opinion, look for a New York to use their salary cap on attracting Enes to The Big Apple, after they lose out on their major free agents. Other teams have the ability to sign Kanter to an offer sheet that the Thunder won’t be able to match, a scenario which I see likely occurring.

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