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One way or another, the Enes Kanter Era in New York is mercifully coming to an end. According to the well-placed SOURCES of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks will enter into negotiations to buy out the disgruntled big man should they fail to trade him by Thursday’s 3 PM deadline.
As the Knicks run out of time to find a trade for center Enes Kanter and his $18.6M expiring deal, discussions on a contract buyout are expected to begin as soon as the deadline passes on Thursday at 3 PM ET, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Honestly, this probably should have already happened weeks ago, particularly once David Fizdale started sitting Kanter in favor of younger centers Mitchell Robinson and Luke Kornet, leading Kanter to complain about it every...single...day. Knicks fans, in their infinite wisdom, started chanting “We want Kan-ter” at home games, and Kanter cheerfully pumped his fists along to the chants. Is it any wonder this franchise has lost 15 straight home games?
So this would appear to be the end of Kanter in New York. If so, he has truly guady numbers in his almost two years as a Knick, averaging 14.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. The Knicks, however, were somehow 2.3 points worse per 100 possessions with him on the court in both seasons.
You gotta respect Enes Kanter's consistency: the Knicks were 2.3 points worse per 100 possessions with him last season, and they are 2.3 points worse this season. pic.twitter.com/PN5B17Sizr
— Joseph Flynn (@ChinaJoeFlynn) February 7, 2019
Peace out, Enes.