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Portland Trail Blazers: Enes Kanter signs with the Celtics, creates controversy

By Aneesh Namburi

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 27: Enes Kanter #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers scores against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Cetlics at TD Garden on February 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 27: Enes Kanter #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers scores against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Cetlics at TD Garden on February 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /
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Former Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter is reportedly signing with the Boston Celtics, but not before creating some controversy.

Although it was pretty obvious after some of the prior moves that the Portland Trail Blazers had made in the first 30 hours of free agency, Enes Kanter announced that he will not be returning to Portland and instead signing a 2 year, $10 million deal with the Boston Celtics.

The news was first reported by Kanter’s manager Hank Fetic, and later confirmed to the larger media by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

After getting bought out by the New York Knicks in February, Kanter signed a deal with Portland for the remainder of the season. Although originally signed to be a backup, Kanter became integral to the Blazers when center Jusuf Nurkic devastatingly went down with a broken leg. During his time in Portland, Kanter averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds a contest.

In the playoffs, Kanter showcased how valuable he was to Portland, providing solid value despite playing through a separated shoulder.

However, after Kanter, it looks like he tried to stir up some controversy with pettiness on his way out.

Shortly after the deal was announced, Kanter released a statement explaining why he was not coming back to the Blazers.

Based on this information, fans all across the league quickly jumped to the defense of Kanter, who is currently fighting a civil rights battle with his home country of Turkey.

This turned out not to be the case. Multiple people with knowledge about the Trail Blazers organization vehemently denied this story, including star guard Damian Lillard.

Sources who are close with the team have told me that while the organization appreciated Kanter’s play and resilience, some players in the locker room did not appreciate Kanter’s attempts to draw publicity for himself.

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While it seems that Kanter’s time in Portland has ended on a slightly sour note, he nonetheless was vital to the team’s playoff run this past year and will be missed.