Portland Trail Blazers: Pros and Cons to bringing back Enes Kanter

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 18: Enes Kanter #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers is guarded by P.J. Washington #25 of the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on April 18, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

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Con – He struggles as a defender

Kanter is a guy who always gives 100 percent when he is on the court. But because of his average positional size and wingspan, combined with a lack of athleticism, he is a poor defender in a lot of ways.

This never comes down to effort, but more because he just doesn’t have the foot speed, nimbleness, or tools to make plays on that end. He doesn’t have great hands, or good timing, so gets called for in-opportune fouls and is unable to protect the rim.

In certain lineups, Kanter is passable as a defensive big. In drop coverage, where the big man drops back in pick and rolls, he can retreat into the paint, and use his size to contest at the rim.

But, next to a power forward who can’t defend on the perimeter or protect the rim, he really struggles. Next to someone like Robert Covington, who is an excellent help defender and rim protector, he can funnel players into help and have his mistakes cleaned up.

Next to a guy like Carmelo Anthony, the Blazers had one of the worst defenses in the league. This was one of the reasons they ranked 29th at the end of the season.

Kanter needs a defensive four next to him.