There appears to be at least three teams interested in signing Enes Kanter.
The Trail Blazers, Lakers and Celtics are all expected to pursue the 27-year-old center when free agency begins June 30, according to a report from Yahoo Sports, which cites unidentified league sources.
Free agent center Enes Kanter is expected to receive interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on June 30, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 26, 2019
Kanter began the season with the Knicks but was released after the trade deadline. He then signed with the Trail Blazers, where he averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 23 games.
Kanter was also a reliable scorer in the playoffs for the Trail Blazers, who advanced to the Western Conference finals before falling to the Warriors in four games.
"It's amazing, like a first year of school,” Kanter told reporters shortly after signing with Portland. “I was actually nervous, but I think they help me a lot. Amazing locker (room). From the first moment that I stepped in everybody was trying to help, talking to me about lots of stuff. It's become very easy.”
The Lakers completed one of the biggest trades in NBA history earlier this month when they acquired Anthony Davis from the Pelicans in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and three first-round picks. They’ll look to add multiple role players to surround Davis and LeBron James if they fail to sign a third star this offseason.
The Celtics, meanwhile, will also need to retool their roster this summer as Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are both reportedly planning to sign elsewhere.
Boston has reportedly explored trading for Steven Adams, Jrue Holiday and Clint Capela. It also has been linked to free agents Nikola Vucevic and Kemba Walker.