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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Portland Trail Blazers, Enes Kanter, Denver Nuggets

Portland Trail Blazers, Enes Kanter (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Pro – the Blazers can go over the cap to re-sign him

The Blazers will be a long way over the cap in 2022. They won’t have cap space to be able to sign free agents next season. This means, that they have to use exceptions to sign players that are their own free agents.

When the Blazers traded for Kanter, he had played one season previously with the Boston Celtics. Now that he’s played a second season with the Trail Blazers, the Blazers have his ” early bird-rights. ” Named after Larry Bird, early bird rights and bird rights, are the exceptions that enable NBA teams to go over the cap to re-sign their players.

To get early bird or bird rights, you need to have a player on your books for two or three seasons or have traded for a player who has spent two or three total seasons on a contract or on two consecutive contracts.

Because the Blazers are over the cap, they cant replace Kanter if he leaves for nothing. So he is a valuable asset. Though he may only be a 20 – 25 minute a night center, he is a valuable big man who can play more minutes if need be. Kanter has never really had injury issues, so can be the perfect backup to guys like Nurkic who struggle with injury.

Enes Kanter is an excellent NBA player who can add value on the offensive end and the glass. Let’s hope the Blazers bring him back in 2022.

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