NBA Rumors: Blazers to replace LaMarcus Aldridge with Enes Kanter?
By Josh Hill
The Blazers need to replace LaMarcus Aldridge, and might steal Enes Kanter away from the Thunder to do so.
Next: Moves Cavaliers Must Make So LeBron Re-Signs
The Portland Trail Blazers of the LaMarcus Aldridge peaked in the second-round of the Western Conference Finals and never got any further than that during his tenure. That’s the mindset that fans are leaning on now that their long time big man has bolted to San Antonio but the pain might be alleviated soon.
With Aldridge gone, the Blazers need to find a replacement for him and they might not need to look very far to find perhaps a perfect fit.
According to Thunder beat writer Anthony Slater, the Trail Blazers might make a run at stealing center Enes Kanter away from Oklahoma City now that they’ve lost LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs.
Blazers a team with cap space and now a potential need that could configure an expensive offer sheet with Enes Kanter, if interested.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 4, 2015
This is going to be up to the Thunder, as they have the right to match any offer sheet that Kanter gets. What could complicate things in a big way is the fact that the Blazers all of a sudden need a center and have some cap space to throw a big offer at Kanter.
If the offer is lucrative enough, the Thunder might not be able to match and could lose their big man before they can get used to having him.
OKC was infinitely better with Kanter after they traded for him and he meshed well with Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant returning healthy in 2015-16 could give the Thunder a Big 3 they’ve needed since 2012 but leave it to Portland to throw a wrench in that plan.
The Thunder absolutely cannot allow Kanter to get away, and if that means surrendering to and paying up on whatever high priced offer sheet the Blazers send his way — then so be it.