The NBA trade deadline is coming up fast, and a new series of moves is set to happen soon as a new deal went down on Tuesday.
The Charlotte Hornets acquired Mo Williams and Troy Daniels from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Gary Neal and a second-round pick. It’s certainly not a huge deal, but could easily signal another series of trades, as we saw earlier in the season. Indeed, just after the deal was reported, the Timberwolves acquired rookie Adreian Payne from the Atlanta Hawks for a first-round pick.
The latest buzz includes another player from the Timberwolves--Kevin Martin--as well as a slew of other players on struggling teams, such as the Denver Nuggets.
Enes Kanter is perhaps the most interesting name to crop up lately, and there’s new information on that front. Check out the latest buzz below.
Kanter Could be Dealt
The quick emergence of Rudy Gobert has lowered Enes Kanter’s value on the Jazz, and could prompt the team to deal him.
The 6‘11” big man is only 22, but will be a restricted free agent this summer. He’ll likely draw lots of interest. Gobert, on the other hand, is signed to the Jazz for two more season after this one.
“The argument to trade Kanter is a convincing one, citing his lack of defensive presence and inconsistent effort and contribution. Kanter provides Jazz fans with headaches they are all too familiar with, having watched Carlos Boozer and Al Jefferson dominate the ball offensively without providing equal effort on defense,” noted KSL.
“In addition, Kanter could sign a lucrative contract offer this season, similar to the one Gordon Hayward signed this past summer, averaging over $16 million a year. Outlandish as that may seem, a desperate team with unspent money may feel obligated to make a splash in free agency, and Kanter could be the benefactor. If the Jazz found this offer too large to match, they could lose the former lottery pick for nothing in return.”
Still, the outlet notes that Kanter’s ceiling has yet to be realized due to his young age and the fact that this is his first full season as a starter. Gobert is flourishing, but still largely unproven. It could be worth it for Utah to keep Kanter, Gobert, and Derrick Favors for now.
