Kanter's Free Agency

[bondom34]

Thanks, thrilled to hear it! Would love to have him back on a deal like that.

[Bravenewworld]

Give him 13.
Is this his second or first contract? Whats his max at?

I'd say pay him whatever he wants. He is a low post offensive force and is exactly what we need.

[Bravenewworld]

OKC is my second fav team. I sure wish the Jazz would have traded him someplace else.
The problem isn't the talent, its the Heart, and attitude.

Which we've seen is not a problem with OKC. Probably, at least IMO, because OKC has shown to value him.

He recognized he was on a team that was trying to replace him and was also not really going anywhere. The Jazz never really attempted to make their big man rotation work or attempted to bring in a proper coaching staff with the right players to win. He did the smart thing and wanted out of that situation.
I dont want you to think im degrading the Jazz or anything. Before we had a team, in the 90s, i rooted for the Jazz and Pacers. Ostertag was a beloved KU product and us fans followed him in the NBA.
That being said, how many people honestly see this Jazz team breaking through that top 10 mark in the West? Not many. They have some very talented players But ever since Sloan, they just seem to be cycling through generations of players. They've already lost 4 all star quality big men since Sloan, without any hint of attempting to make them work or contend.... so i really don't know where to go with them and their future.

[Zack M]

Lets not forget the last time we let go of a talented youngster.

With KD on limited minutes next year...we need an 20 ppg scorer...and Kanter can be one.

As for his poor defence...even Nowitzki was considered a piss poor defender in his early years...its something that can be worked on.

[spearsy23]

Lets not forget the last time we let go of a talented youngster.

With KD on limited minutes next year...we need an 20 ppg scorer...and Kanter can be one.

As for his poor defence...even Nowitzki was considered a piss poor defender in his early years...its something that can be worked on.

Nowitzki's reputation was a result of the 'soft and unathletic European' bias. He wasn't a horrible defender, Kanter actually is.

[Balkman32]

I think if he gets the MAX the Thunder match. I hope he is willing to take a little less, especially since he seems to really enjoy basketball. He will get 23% of the cap this season but then only 13% of the cap in 2 years. That is a HUGE difference.

[Zack M]

2 year/22 millions now.

4 year/ 64 million in 2017

[Marcus50]

He's efficient as well:

24+ PER
200 WS/48
60% TS scorer

With these stats and a negative BPM you sort of get a picture of his defense

[Marcus50]

2 year/22 millions now.

4 year/ 64 million in 2017

That would be a high risk play from Kanter's agent. If Kanter can fix his defense it works for Kanter but Presti will not be at all keen because it limits his trade value, if he remains a defensive liability and gets exposed for another couple of years then the second line could read 4/20.

I think Kanter will take 4/48 - 4/52 which would be a good outcome for him and for OKC. OKC has Adams for insurance for the next two years in case Kanters defense remains a bust. If it comes good presti has the option of trading Adams to stay close to the tax line. Its a good position for OKC to be in right now

[Marcus50]

Lets not forget the last time we let go of a talented youngster.

With KD on limited minutes next year...we need an 20 ppg scorer...and Kanter can be one.

As for his poor defence...even Nowitzki was considered a piss poor defender in his early years...its something that can be worked on.

I agree to some extent but dont lose sight of the fact that Kanters defense has been worked on for 4 years already and to say that Utah ignored defensive coaching is a stretch. Since Kanter's departure they are the best defense in the league.

His value is going to depend how the coaching staff use him. With KD Serge and Russ in the starting lineup they are going to command a lot of ball. Our centers role will be offensive rebounding (big tick for Kanter), the odd PnR (another big tick for Kanter) and anchoring the defense (no tick there). If Kanter comes off the bench (which I think is very unlikely) he lines up with a relatively weak defensive unit and a PG who is poor on the PnR. Kanters offensive ability gets diluted and his defense potentially becomes a huge liability.

What appeals is starting Kanter, bringing KD off after 6 or 7 minutes and leaving Russ Kanter Serge Singler and Dion in till the 10 minute mark then putting Adams Morrow KD DJA and Nick (or McGary) on at about the 10 minute mark and running deep into the second quarter

[kdthunderup]

Lets not forget the last time we let go of a talented youngster.

With KD on limited minutes next year...we need an 20 ppg scorer...and Kanter can be one.

As for his poor defence...even Nowitzki was considered a piss poor defender in his early years...its something that can be worked on.

I agree to some extent but dont lose sight of the fact that Kanters defense has been worked on for 4 years already and to say that Utah ignored defensive coaching is a stretch. Since Kanter's departure they are the best defense in the league.

His value is going to depend how the coaching staff use him. With KD Serge and Russ in the starting lineup they are going to command a lot of ball. Our centers role will be offensive rebounding (big tick for Kanter), the odd PnR (another big tick for Kanter) and anchoring the defense (no tick there). If Kanter comes off the bench (which I think is very unlikely) he lines up with a relatively weak defensive unit and a PG who is poor on the PnR. Kanters offensive ability gets diluted and his defense potentially becomes a huge liability.

What appeals is starting Kanter, bringing KD off after 6 or 7 minutes and leaving Russ Kanter Serge Singler and Dion in till the 10 minute mark then putting Adams Morrow KD DJA and Nick (or McGary) on at about the 10 minute mark and running deep into the second quarter

Are you sure about that? I remember reading a blog where the Jazz coaching staff treated Kanter's development very poorly, that was why he wanted out of the organisation so bad. We have to give him a chance to work on his defense here in OKC and let him understand his teammates better, he has already admitted he isn't a good defender and said he plans to work on that a lot this summer, that is the first step to improvement. Hopefully the team nurtures him better then Utah and give him the confidence to grow into a better defender, because to me he just looks like a really raw player who has probably not focused too much on defensive fundamentals up to this point.

He doesn't have to become a shutdown paint defender, Ibaka already provides quite a bit of that. All he needs to focus on is becoming a better team defender and P&R defender.

[Balkman32]

@ the end of the day they Thunder are not letting a 22 year old center walk. They will match whatever he gets, if they have to deal him after they will.

[Soonerule]

I'm not a Kanter fan. Love his offense, but absolutely detest his defense. I am not one of those that think he will get better at it either. I don't care if he is young, he is a 4 year NBA veteran and he still won't play defense. Going back to his first draft interview, reporters asked Kanter what he needed to work on, his answer was always defense. Same response to the same question in his exit interviews after every NBA season including his exit interview this May.

I apologize, but what makes anyone think next season will be any different? Fifth time is a charm? When asked how he felt about being drafted by Utah he said he was very happy the Jazz chose him. He didn't get unhappy until someone stopped worshiping his offense and put their foot up his backside to play defense. The Jazz didn't start looking to replace him until it became clear he wasn't going to do it.

His excuse that he has never been properly coached flies out the window when you look at the Jazz's season before and after they dumped Kanter (and that is exactly what they did with their former #3 pick from the 2011 draft, they dumped him. What did they get for him? An aging center they immediately cut, a perennial D-Leaguer in Garrett, a probable late first round draft pick they can't use until 2018 and a European prospect that has yet to prove he will ever be NBA ready.)

Before the Jazz traded Kanter they were winning just 33% if their games. After getting rid of him they won 66% of their remaining games. Project that over an entire season and the Jazz win the Northwest Division and are the 4th seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Jazz lost ALL of Kanter's offense. All of it, and replaced it with .... nothing....but the defense they gained by not having him doubled their winning percentage. After the trade the Jazz beat at least 6 teams that made the playoffs in the west (it would have been 7 had we squeaked in). The Thunder only beat a beat up nothing to gain Portland team late in the season. Let's take that one step further. The Jazz won 66% of their remaining games without any player with a sniff at winning the MVP award.

Quin Snyder isn't a good defensive coach, he is an excellent one and Kanter did not improve on defense one iota, that is why the Jazz gave up on him.

I also don't hold with the idea that getting Ibaka back will make up for Kanter. Ibaka does what he does because he was always playing off a solid defensive anchor that teams were having to go around. Teams don't go around Kanter, they attack him because he won't hold his ground. Mitch McGary took 3 charges after the trade in spot minutes. Kanter didn't take a single charge that I remember and he was starting most of the time.

If the Thunder had not suffered all the injuries and the trade was still made and OKC was playing the Cavs now, Lebron would make Kanter his bitch. There is just no nice way to say it, he would and it would be embarrassing.

The Jazz offered Mr One-Way $8 mil/yr. I think they were being generous. He is good enough for Presti to make the $7.4 mil qualifying offer but if the money goes over 9, screw him. That money is better spent elsewhere.

His joy to be in OKC will get a reality check just as soon as training camp starts if we get stuck with him and we'll find ourselves in the same boat that Utah was in but paying more money with fewer options to get rid of him.

[bondom34]

Not gonna lie, voted 13, but kinda agree w/ Soonerrule. Wouldn't be heartbroken either way, and if I had to choose I'd def take Adams over him and go for a sign and trade if possible.

[Soonerule]

Not gonna lie, voted 13, but kinda agree w/ Soonerrule. Wouldn't be heartbroken either way, and if I had to choose I'd def take Adams over him and go for a sign and trade if possible.

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

[bondom34]

Not gonna lie, voted 13, but kinda agree w/ Soonerrule. Wouldn't be heartbroken either way, and if I had to choose I'd def take Adams over him and go for a sign and trade if possible.

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

The main issue in not keeping him is just that they'd still have zero cap room to replace him w/ no backup C. So it would need to be a sign and trade, which is possible. That said, I still hold a little more hope than you he'll improve, but I'm not entirely convinced either.

And thanks, I tried on the poll .

[Soonerule]

Not gonna lie, voted 13, but kinda agree w/ Soonerrule. Wouldn't be heartbroken either way, and if I had to choose I'd def take Adams over him and go for a sign and trade if possible.

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

The main issue in not keeping him is just that they'd still have zero cap room to replace him w/ no backup C. So it would need to be a sign and trade, which is possible. That said, I still hold a little more hope than you he'll improve, but I'm not entirely convinced either.

And thanks, I tried on the poll .

One of those things that make you say hmmmm and reconsider picking up Upshaw at 48 if he is available?

[bondom34]

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

The main issue in not keeping him is just that they'd still have zero cap room to replace him w/ no backup C. So it would need to be a sign and trade, which is possible. That said, I still hold a little more hope than you he'll improve, but I'm not entirely convinced either.

And thanks, I tried on the poll .

One of those things that make you say hmmmm and reconsider picking up Upshaw at 48 if he is available?

I'd consider either way, assuming the heart thing is OK.

[Bravenewworld]

Not gonna lie, voted 13, but kinda agree w/ Soonerrule. Wouldn't be heartbroken either way, and if I had to choose I'd def take Adams over him and go for a sign and trade if possible.

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

The main issue in not keeping him is just that they'd still have zero cap room to replace him w/ no backup C. So it would need to be a sign and trade, which is possible. That said, I still hold a little more hope than you he'll improve, but I'm not entirely convinced either.

And thanks, I tried on the poll .

Why wouldn't he improve?
He's 22 and now on a team that will focus on his defense. Both of those point to us reasonably thinking he will improve.

[bondom34]

I took the $9 mil option. I'm not blind to his offense.

BTW, I thought the poll was excellent.

And yes, Adams over Kanter, I have an infinite amount of confidence in Adam's improving his offense over Kanter EVER playing defense. Put $13 mil/yr in Kanter's pocket and he will never do it. He'll be too busy hanging out in Chili's tweeting for blondes and brunettes to come have lunch with him to work on his game any more.

The main issue in not keeping him is just that they'd still have zero cap room to replace him w/ no backup C. So it would need to be a sign and trade, which is possible. That said, I still hold a little more hope than you he'll improve, but I'm not entirely convinced either.

And thanks, I tried on the poll .

Why wouldn't he improve?
He's 22 and now on a team that will focus on his defense. Both of those point to us reasonably thinking he will improve.

Because he's been in the league 4 years and has been on teams that played defense.....except him. I think there's a chance he does, but there's a better chance its not a big difference if any.