1. Enes Kanter, C, New York Knicks
The New York Knicks made major waves ahead of the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline with a move that seemingly materialized and ultimately went down exceptionally rapidly. They, of course, traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and future (complicated) draft picks. That, however, wasn’t the only deal that they were trying to get done.
Throughout the entire buildup to the deadline, it was widely reported that the Knicks were shopping center Enes Kanter to anyone that would even nibble at the possibility. However, given the fact that Kanter is earning $18.6 million this season and is an expiring contract made it hard for him to move on the part of New York. Thus, he stayed in New York, but the Knicks have already announced that they’ve released him.
Kanter hasn’t been playing the best basketball of his career this season but has still been productive when on the floor. In 44 games this season, he’s averaged 14 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. He’s continued to be an old-school post player on offense with good rebounding ability, but often a liability as a rim-protector.
Even still, the 26-year old center could be a valuable asset for a team that needs a low-post presence on offense to get buckets around the rim and clean up the trash in the rebounding department. There may not have been a trade market for him, but Kanter should have plenty of suitors on the buyout market.