NBA Rumors: Kanter Treatment Could Turn Off Durant, Irving This Summer

After finally getting out of Gotham, the last person anyone would expect to recommend the New York Knicks as a destination is Enes Kanter. The Turkish center is now with the Portland Trail Blazers but fully aware of talk linking the Knicks to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Kanter grew frustrated with the Knicks prior to being waived. Despite a proven double-double machine, he saw limited minutes with New York opting to give the younger crew more playing time in preparation for the future.

It was a long wait for Kanter who finally got waived. He was considered by several teams and he eventually chose the Blazers over the rest. With his career about to reboot, everything seems fine now for the 26-year-old big man. In fact, one reporter asked him some questions about free agency, particularly about Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving – two high profile stars that the Knicks will reportedly be targeting.

"Of course. It's a very good organization. Good people. ... Amazing city. So, I think that they have a really good chance to get good superstars,” said Kanter to Brian Heyman

Coming from someone who just got shortchanged of playing time and waived, it was a gracious answer from Kanter. Normally, some would say negative things or not respond at all. In all, it was a class act for the third overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Further, it seems Kanter holds no ill-feelings with New York – especially the fans. But the whole fiasco may have just worked in the favor of the 6-foot-11 cager since he joins a team that is expected to move beyond the regular season wars.

The Blazers are 34-23 and are looking good as of this writing. He is expected to help out in the scoring and rebounding department that should further bolster the chances of the Blazers.

One player excited to see what Kanter can do on the floor is Damian Lillard. The NBA star knows what Kanter brings to the table and saw all that up and close during their first workout recently with the Turkish center, Oregon Live said.

“Each time he got the ball, he was able to get a quality shot on the block. He was really good on the block. Really good offensive rebounder. The game looked easy to him,” said Lillard.

Kanter is expected to play backup center to Jusuf Nurkic and play alongside Evan Turner, Seth Curry, Jake Layman and Rodney Hood in what should be an interesting second unit.