The J-Notes
Fansided

3 reasons the Utah Jazz should say no to Freedom

By Jonah Kubicek

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 21: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Enes Kanter #0 of the Utah Jazz during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 21, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 21: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Enes Kanter #0 of the Utah Jazz during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 21, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 10: Enes Kanter #0 of the Utah Jazz drives with the basketball in front of Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets during their game at the Toyota Center on January 10, 2015 in Houston, Texas. 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 Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 10: Enes Kanter #0 of the Utah Jazz drives with the basketball in front of Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets during their game at the Toyota Center on January 10, 2015 in Houston, Texas. 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 Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

Enes Freedom has a dark history with the Utah Jazz

After being traded to the Thunder in 2015, Freedom had some harsh words about Utah as a whole. Freedom suggested that he did not only not enjoy Salt Lake City, but the region left him so dilapidated that he even started to hate basketball.

"“I think the difference is, I like playing basketball there. I think that’s the most important thing. I never liked playing basketball before in my NBA career, and this is the first time I felt like playing basketball there, for my team, for the fans, for my teammates for my coaches, for everybody. So, that’s the first time.”"

Freedom went on to suggest that he did not like the fans, organization, or city he was playing in. I get it. Sometimes it just takes a lot for a player to consider a foreign city home, and Freedom never really felt that in Utah. It could be no one’s fault, or maybe he isn’t telling the whole story.

Even so, after making those disparaging remarks, the Utah Jazz should be in no hurry to give him another chance in the NBA. If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours, and Freedom left all his bridges burned.

On top of that, Freedom was a promising young starter on the Jazz while the team was on the rise. Mitchell was on the way, and honestly Rudy Gobert would fit pretty well alongside Freedom. Enes could help on offense, and Rudy could be the defender we all know him to be.

In fact, Freedom could have been an early prototype of the floor spacing center. With Gobert down low and not going anywhere, the Jazz could have eventually had a starting five of Mitchell, Hayward, Freedom, Rubio, and Gobert. Joe Ingles could have come off the bench and excelled in that role. All in all, Freedom may have left a lot on the table with the Jazz.

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