The Enes Kanter Thread

[carrottop12]

So, since our last thread got locked, not looking at you erudite but I think right now he's one of two guys most commonly mentioned with our pick, and he deserves a thread. Not trying to undermine any mods here, I just think since we don't really have a draft thread to talk about each player, we need to have individual threads.

So, if we can keep this civil that would be ideal.

Here are some box scores from Kanter's U18 championship run where Turkey ended up getting 3rd place.

Of the 9 games, I am posting 8 of the box scores where he led the team in rebounding or scoring or both. This is why he has been a top 10 prospect for a few years, there aren't a lot of highlights of these games, but it is interesting to look at.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
22 points, 22 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
16 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
19 points, 22 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
13 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
22 points, 12 rebounds. Side note, Valanciunas 20 points.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
21 points, 18 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
32 points, 25 rebounds.

http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa ... istic.html
35 points, 19 rebounds. Side note Valanciunas 15 points.

So you know, as these games progress from top to bottom the importance gets higher, they move into the playoffs essentially so its impressive that his numbers get better. These are all top teams he's playing against as far as u18 teams go. Just something to look at in addition to the videos we have. Gives you some insight into what he is like in game.

If you believe this link, Kanter averaged "around" 35/20 in high school.

http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php ... ew&id=6107

Take it for what you will, but he has put up dominant numbers everywhere he has played, including high level european leagues for his age, and leagues that are far better than US high school leagues, especially the ones we see the videos from.

[finnegan]

Sorry for the duplicate. Hopefully the mods will merge.

That being said, I personally like shorter subject specific threads, because I absolutely refuse to read through them when they become too long.

So I prefer not to have as single "Enes Kanter Thread". But that's just my opinion.

[finnegan]

And for erudite, you are a classier person than talking like that. Not sure why a few specific posters are getting under your skin lately??? Just ignore them, and support you points which you do extremely well.

I like Jimmer and Kanter!

[carrottop12]

Does anyone remember this tweet from dx?

Doesn't want to play for them according to his camp. Too many big men? RT @topjazzfan: Why would Enes Kanter blow off Utah at the #3 pick?

Obviously Kanter worked out with the Jazz over a two day period, did we ever hear anything again about why his camp apparently said he didn't want to play for the Jazz when he had already agreed to meet with them at a later date? Or has there been anymore news from his camp that says he doesn't want to play in Utah?

[Neon Black]

Tbe latest news had his camp saying he would play for Utah and he'd work out, whih is obviously what happened. Not too worried about it.

You know, I hated Kanter at first but his knee issues aren't actually issues, and he's excelled working out vs. all of our NCAA prospects. And those box scores are monstrous, despite the league. I love Knight but should we really take whay would be a late lottery pick in a real draft? He has serious limitations that make me doubt whether he'd ever be better than D. Harris,

[Neon Black]

Tbe latest news had his camp saying he would play for Utah and he'd work out, whih is obviously what happened. Not too worried about it.

You know, I hated Kanter at first but his knee issues aren't actually issues, and he's excelled working out vs. all of our NCAA prospects. And those box scores are monstrous, despite the league. I love Knight but should we really take whay would be a late lottery pick in a real draft? He has serious limitations that make me doubt whether he'd ever be better than D. Harris,

[kamazilla]

I'll be interested in seeing whether or not he works out for the Jazz again against competition. If not, he would be sending a rather clear message that he does not want to play here. If the Jazz see him as the best prospect available, they should draft him anyway.

And as I said on the trade board, these HS vids are a non-starter. Kanter's draft position will not be impacted at all, but the way they were presented, along with Givony's alternately shrill and defensive tweets, rightfully should impact DX's credibility.

[reapaman]

Take it for what you will, but he has put up dominant numbers everywhere he has played, including high level european leagues for his age, and leagues that are far better than US high school leagues, especially the ones we see the videos from.

Yea this means nothing. Koufos was projected by pretty much everyone to be at least a top 5 pick coming out of his under 18 championship run. Take a look at the box scores from Kostas Koufos's Under 18 championship run in 2007 (sorry to lazy to post them individually like you did).
http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.teamID_291.compID_8aYeHlfuGF-mF5IqO8aFH1.season_2007.roundID_5526.playerID_63101.html

Koufos's numbers are superior to Kanters. But despite Koufos averaging a very solid 14 pts 6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game at ohio state in his freshman season, his draft stock plummetted because a lot of his weaknesses got exposed in college and was seen as a extremely risky project. I mean like Koufos, how is Kanter gonna score or even rebound? He can't out jump or out quick most guys for rebounds/shots like D.Howard can. He won't be the tallest, biggest or longest guy on the floor so he can't reach over people, shoot over guys or out muscle them. And I'm not sure what you guys saw but I didn't see any special post moves that are gonna help him score in the nba, they were just basic post moves; nothing like pau gasol or hakeem. He doesn't use his body like the gasol's do, it looks just like how Koufos did it. Even discounting the DX video, he looks raw and just takes advantage of his smaller and/or weaker talent just like Koufos did.

And just look at history, how many of these european big man panned out (or big man in general)? Dirk, the gasol's, Okur, mabey a couple other I forgot but all of them had much more experience than Kanter when they came to the nba. They played and played very well in the major professional leagues in Europe instead of just an under 18 league. All the guys who never played major roles in top euro leagues or had multiple seasons in college like Koufos and Darko busted out. Also guys who could barely get minutes in a professional league like Saer Sene or Nikoloz Tskitishvili all busted out too. And in general, unpolished big man that don't have a unique athletic advantage (D.Howard) or Physical Advantage (Roy Hibbert), typically bust out (Andrew Bynum is the lone exception I can think of) and Kanter will bust out.

[BarneyGumble]

Call me crazy but I think there's a chance the Cavs take Kanter #1 overall. Can someone enlighten me as to why Irving is entitled to be the #1 pick again? Ill take size and a track record over potential, but that's just me....

[Xanthis]

You're crazy. Cavs won't take Kanter over Irving or Williams. Also Kanter doesn't have a track record and that is why he is so unknown.

[BringtheD]

I am sure there is alot of mutual interest between the Jazz and Kanter. I personally think with the structure in Uta, that he will be able to go as far as his determination takes him; just watching a little bit between him and Koufus I don't think there is a valid comparison that translates from their relative HS performances to career projections; in my eye, Kanter looks much more coordinated with an all around better, more natural, pyhsical/athletic ability to play bball; he's also been watching the Jazz play and therefore, he has a natural feel for the offense already and would have an edge fitting in over Koufus who was lost and never found his way.

[carrottop12]

Kanter's offensive game is much different that Koufos'. Koufos went from the outside in, and wasn't a back to the basket guy, Kanter is the opposite. He looks best with his back to the basket. Kanter also has great hands, that will help him out a ton at the next level.

[BarneyGumble]

Kanter's offensive game is much different that Koufos'. Koufos went from the outside in, and wasn't a back to the basket guy, Kanter is the opposite. He looks best with his back to the basket. Kanter also has great hands, that will help him out a ton at the next level.

Plus Kanter has a jump shot and Koufus was a Doufus...

[QuantumMacgyver]

Kanter's offensive game is much different that Koufos'. Koufos went from the outside in, and wasn't a back to the basket guy, Kanter is the opposite. He looks best with his back to the basket. Kanter also has great hands, that will help him out a ton at the next level.

Plus Kanter has a jump shot and Koufus was a Doufus...

Plus Kanter is heralded as a great passing big man. The biggest difference I see in Kanter and Koufus is on the mental end. Kanter likes to bang down low and throw his weight around. Koufus was pretty soft. I still like Knight more at this point, but only barely. I won't know who I prefer 'til draft night and I am either disappointed or stoked by the pick.

[Jazzfan12]

Koufos had great hands and a great jumper in Europe. I haven't read one report that says Kanter knows that passing is an option on the basketball court and the games I watched of him (Which are like three total since there's no footage of him) suggest that as well.

[carrottop12]

Koufos had great hands and a great jumper in Europe. I haven't read one report that says Kanter knows that passing is an option on the basketball court and the games I watched of him (Which are like three total since there's no footage of him) suggest that as well.

Koufos was a finnesse player, that was apparent from his college days, and continued on into the NBA. Kanter doesn't appear to have that same problem, he uses his weight on the offensive side of the ball very effectively.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Koufos had great hands and a great jumper in Europe. I haven't read one report that says Kanter knows that passing is an option on the basketball court and the games I watched of him (Which are like three total since there's no footage of him) suggest that as well.

Koufos was a finnesse player, that was apparent from his college days, and continued on into the NBA. Kanter doesn't appear to have that same problem, he uses his weight on the offensive side of the ball very effectively.

In all fairness...Koufos kinda had a coming out party going into the end of the season...he still could turn out to be a solid rotation player.

[carrottop12]

Agreed, the jazz gave him up to get al which was the right move but he hasn't been a failure. Most 1 and done guys take time, koufos is no different.

[reapaman]

Great hands, using weight effectively, blah blah, amare would tell you that stuff means nothing. Is he one of the top big man athletes in the game like D Howard or amare? Is he taller/bigger/longer than most nba bigs like Roy Hibbert or Dirk? Does he have strong Pau Gasol or KG post moves? Is he a garbage/high energy player like Joakim Noah or PauL Milsap? Is he a strong shooter like Okur or LMA? The answers or NO, No, Heck NO, No and mabey. There are certain molds of big man that make it in the nba, and he doesn't fit them yet. Whoever drafts him is gonna have to have alot of patience with him and we all know the Jazz won't. Koufos could still be at least decent if someone gives him enough playing time and willing to let him make mistakes, again the Jazz and many teams in general won't.

[carrottop12]

Is he taller/bigger/longer than most nba bigs like Roy Hibbert or Dirk?

Dirk was measured at 6'11.5. Kanter measured in at 6'11.25, so they are roughly the same size. Dirk doesn't exactly have dhalsim like arms either.

Does he have strong Pau Gasol or KG post moves?

He actually has pretty strong post moves for a 20 year old. He has really good footwork for a kid his size and his age.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcYy9iRz3E4&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Is he a garbage/high energy player like Joakim Noah or PauL Milsap?

By most accounts of those who have seen him he is a hard worker on the glass, and as evidenced by his sub 6% body fat after not playing for a year he works very hard to keep himself in shape. That is good sign from a kid who's been kept out of competitive games for a year.

Is he a strong shooter like Okur or LMA?

He does appear to have a very solid stroke, his high school videos show he has range out to the three point line at least. In the combine he shot 40% from NBA 3, 56% in NCAA 3's, and 78% in dribble up 15-18 footers. Regardless of how those translate, he obviously has a consistent stroke.

There are certain molds of big man that make it in the nba, and he doesn't fit them yet. Whoever drafts him is gonna have to have alot of patience with him and we all know the Jazz won't. Koufos could still be at least decent if someone gives him enough playing time and willing to let him make mistakes, again the Jazz and many teams in general won't.

7 footers with big frames who have good hands, solid athleticism, and a well developed offensive game are usually pretty solid players, and sometimes very very good players. Dirk is very good, Okur was really a good player, Al Horford is a good player even if you only look at him offensively, Brook Lopez is a good player, , DeMarcus Cousins is going to be a good player, Al Jefferson is a good player, Zach Randolph is a good player.

These are all guys who aren't big time athletes but have big frames that allow them to move around in the paint and score with high efficiency. They are all very valuable players.

I am not sure what mold you think Kanter falls into, but he's a very good physical specimen, he's a fluid athlete on the floor, and he's always shown an ability to score and rebound.