NBA Trade Rumors: Enes Kanter requests trade from Utah Jazz

By Josh Hill | Feb 12, 2015

Feb 9, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) celebrates with forward Gordon Hayward (20) and guard Dante Exum (11) during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Jazz defeated the Pelicans 100-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The Utah Jazz are going nowhere this season, but that’s not what big man Enes Kanter has in mind as he has plans to leave the team.

With the NBA Trade Deadline approaching on February 19th, the NBA Trade Rumor mill is spinning faster and faster with players entering the discussion for deals across the league. One of those players who has thrown his hat into the ring is Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter.

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Utah is going nowhere this season, but that’s not a plan that Kanter shares. He’s in the final year of his contact and after long-term talks have gone nowhere it appears he’s seeking a trade as a solution to his problems.

According to Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune, the Jazz big man has requested a trade ahead of the February 19th deadline.

"Frustrated by his role during his three-plus years in Utah, center Enes Kanter told The Salt Lake Tribune he hopes to be traded before this year’s deadline."

That’s not a formal request for a trade but it’s maybe the most polite way to tell a team you no longer want to play for them. Kanter is a talent on the rise in the NBA but he hasn’t been in the sort of environment to allow him to flourish. It’s clear that’s what he seeks, as a trade is in the best interest of both Kanter and the Jazz at this point.

Kanter likely won’t be back in 2015-16, but it’s not exclusively his decision to make. By forgoing contract talks before the deadline in October, Kanter will be entering restricted free agency this summer meaning the Jazz can match any offer sheet he decides to sign.

You better believe there will be plenty of interest in Kanter this summer, but the Jazz having final say on where he plays is the root cause of this request for a trade. There’s no saying the Jazz won’t grant him a trade but they know the type of talent they have and it won’t be a bargain sale if Kanter is moved before the deadline arrives.

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