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NBA Free Agency 2015: Best fits for Top 25 remaining free agents

By Josh Hill

Mar 24, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts to being booed by Utah Jazz fans during his introduction prior to the game at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts to being booed by Utah Jazz fans during his introduction prior to the game at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Enes Kanter, C

Free Agent Status: Restricted
Best Fits: Trail Blazers, Thunder

Enes Kanter is an interesting free agent who is being hurt by his restricted status. If Kanter was a UFA, he’d have been one of the players signed on the first few days of free agency. Oklahoma City has the rights to match whatever offer Kanter gets and this is something that has hurt other big men like Greg Monroe in the past.

Like Monroe last season, teams are probably staying away from Kanter because they know the Thunder are going to match and bring him back. That’s not a certainty though, but it’s a potent repellent keeping teams at bay in chasing him.

The Trail Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge and need a center to lock things down, and throwing a huge offer at Kanter might pry him away from the Thunder. Of course, losing Kanter would be an utter disaster for the OKC front office and might implode the team in a big way.

That’s why it’s unlikely that Kanter goes anywhere, and it’s just a matter of whether the Thunder give him a long-term contract or they dispute until a tender has to be signed.

Next: No. 3

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