Celtics sign Enes Kanter
After Al Horford’s departure to Philadelphia, Boston had rebounded by acquiring Kanter.
The Celtics took a big step toward fortifying their frontcourt on Monday by agreeing to a two-year, $10 million deal with free agent Enes Kanter, a league source confirmed. The second year of the contract will be a player option.
. @NBA #FreeAgency Announcement:@EnesKanter has decided to sign with @celtics We are excited to join this historic franchise!
Two year deal with a second year player option!@espn #MAESTROSports pic.twitter.com/ZuJIaayMyF— Hank Fetic (@hadisfetic) July 1, 2019
Last season, Kanter averaged 13.7 points and 9.8 rebounds while splitting the season between the Knicks and the Blazers.
Boston struck quickly by filling the void created by Kyrie Irving’s departure by agreeing to sign another All-Star point guard in Kemba Walker. But the holes created in the frontcourt had perhaps become even more glaring.
On draft night, Boston traded center Aron Baynes to the Suns, and then at the start of free agency on Sunday forward Al Horford agreed to a four-year, $109 million deal with the 76ers. And one by one, the top options on the free agent were being gobbled up.
But the Celtics ultimately used their room mid-level exception to acquire Kanter, a 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound center who has played for the Jazz, Thunder, Knicks and Blazers over his eight NBA seasons. Kanter, 27, is an elite rebounder and a strong finisher at the rim, although he is not known as a powerful defender.
Still, he helped guide Portland to the Western Conference finals last season after Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic was lost for the season with a leg injury. For now, Kanter should slide into the starting center role, with Robert Williams and potentially Daniel Theis, who is a restricted free agent, serving as his backup.
