Chad Ford: Who is Enes Kanter

jogo · May 26, 2011

Can someone post the ESPN insider article : Enes Kanter pro potential

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog...spn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=6586882

Angkor Wat · May 26, 2011

Manger or bust!

DragonGirl · May 26, 2011

jogo said: ↑

Can someone post the ESPN insider article : Enes Kanter pro potential

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog...spn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=6586882
Click to expand...

Nothing new really, but here you go.

Enes Kanter's pro potential

For NBA executives in Chicago at the NBA pre-draft combine last week, seeing Enes Kanter on the court was akin to a Big Foot sighting. Kanter was a European basketball prodigy prior to coming to the United States. But since arriving here, the only actual games he and his size-16 shoes have played in were a few at Stoneridge Prep in California and in the 2010 Hoop Summit in Portland.

Since the NCAA ruled Kanter permanently ineligible at Kentucky for receiving impermissible benefits from a Turkish professional team, he has been a mystery man to most basketball fans. So, in anticipation of him likely being taken among the first five selections in June's NBA Draft, here's the latest scouting report:

Playing background
While Kanter hadn't been well known to many in the NBA until recently, international scouts have been following him since he burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old. He not only appeared in Euroleague games for Fenerbache at that age, but also became, arguably, the dominant big man in his age group in Europe.

Last spring, against a very talented Team USA front line that consisted of Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Terrence Jones and Patric Young, Kanter broke Dirk Nowitzki's Hoop Summit scoring record by dropping 34 points in only 23 minutes. He was, at times, literally a man among boys.

Unfortunately, Hoop Summit is still not an event that is covered by most NBA decision-makers, so the performance could be judged only on video or by word-of-mouth from their scouts.

Future position
At 6-foot-11, 260 pounds, Kanter easily has the requisite size and mobility to play power forward and, at times, center in the NBA. While power forwards in the league come in all shapes and sizes, Kanter is a throwback to the days when they operated around the basket and didn't mind throwing their weight around. Given the success that guys like Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Horford are having, teams are looking for someone like Kanter who can match up physically with them.

Athleticism
While Kanter will never be confused with a track athlete, he is surprisingly athletic for his body type and runs the floor easily for a man his size. In addition, he has pretty good lift and is a reasonably good "second jumper" off his feet.

Kanter was impressive at the combine because it was evident that he was in near-peak condition after spending the last few weeks at Tim Grover's ATTACK Gym. NBA teams seemed to be impressed with the work he has put in, especially after missing the entire basketball season.

Skill level
Kanter will spend most of his NBA career around the basket and, to that end, he has fundamentally sound low-post footwork. In addition, he possesses a nice shooting touch inside and can shoot the turnaround jump shot and the jump hook. Given that he is a big man who has often been double-teamed, he has a good passing aptitude and court vision.

What will surprise fans is how well he can shoot from the perimeter. Again, his shooting fundamentals are very sound and he will be able to be accurate out to the NBA 3-point line. I witnessed a private workout at ATTACK last week and came away impressed with that aspect of his game.

Disposition
Kanter has always loved contact and always competed with a fiery mentality. It is a part of his basketball DNA. So, the combination of that attitude about physical play and his body type will likely keep him close to the basket most of the time. While he'll get pushed around early in his career, it shouldn't be long before the 19-year-old is dishing out as much as he is getting.

Aptitude
Although Kanter could not play for Kentucky this past season, he was tutored in the NBA game by the Wildcats' coaching staff every day. Kenny Payne, Rod Strickland and Tony Delk all played in the league and worked hard to develop Kanter's NBA game, especially Payne. How much it helps Kanter may not be quantifiable, but it adds another layer of preparation for him.

Best-case scenario: Al Horford
Before you sneeze at the comparison, remember that they are similarly built and have a similar playing style. In some ways, Kanter is ahead of the curve in comparison as he starts his NBA career two years younger than Horford.

Horford, who attended high school in Lansing, Mich., was not recruited by Tom Izzo and Michigan State and was, at best, considered a top-50 recruit when he signed with Florida. After averaging 10 points and almost eight rebounds in Gainesville, Horford was the No. 3 selection in the 2007 draft as a 21-year-old junior. This season, he made his first appearance in the All-Star Game.

Even if Kanter is not an All-Star, he has a chance to have the same career trajectory as Horford. At worst, he is a good player for Kanter to model his game after.

Summary
While international players are still met with skepticism by some, ultimately evaluating them is no different than evaluating a player in the Big Ten or ACC. International draft busts are not the only kind found in the first round.

Kanter's situation is unique in that there is a small body of work that shows a high level of potential for success in the NBA. Some NBA teams will see Kanter's situation as a crapshoot. Cleveland has three viable options with the No. 1 pick -- Kanter, Duke's Kyrie Irving and Arizona's Derrick Williams. If I were the Cavaliers, I'd analyze Kanter closely before passing on him at No. 1. I don't see him being available when they select again at No.4.
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HombreDeHierro · May 26, 2011

arvydas sabonis kinda?

jogo · May 27, 2011

DragonGirl said: ↑

Nothing new really, but here you go.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

Htown's2kFinest · May 27, 2011

From that ESPN article on Kanter mentioning his position in the NBA:

Future position
At 6-foot-11, 260 pounds, Kanter easily has the requisite size and mobility to play power forward and, at times, center in the NBA. While power forwards in the league come in all shapes and sizes, Kanter is a throwback to the days when they operated around the basket and didn't mind throwing their weight around. Given the success that guys like Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Horford are having, teams are looking for someone like Kanter who can match up physically with them.
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They put him as a PF that sometimes can play the center. Looking at his length, which is about the average for a NBA center today (just around an inch better than Hill's at 9'1") and average to slightly above average athleticism, I can see why they put him mainly as a PF. He doesn't have the superior length or athleticism that would make him stand out as a center with guys that jump higher, run faster, or have more length than him; i.e. the Nene's, Dwight Howards', Bynums'. He would be ideal as a primary PF but dunno about him being a team's primary center... especially on squad like ours that lacks some athleticism in the front court.

jopatmc · May 27, 2011

Htown's2kFinest said: ↑

From that ESPN article on Kanter mentioning his position in the NBA:

They put him as a PF that sometimes can play the center. Looking at his length, which is about the average for a NBA center today (just around an inch better than Hill's at 9'1") and average to slightly above average athleticism, I can see why they put him mainly as a PF. He doesn't have the superior length or athleticism that would make him stand out as a center with guys that jump higher, run faster, or have more length than him; i.e. the Nene's, Dwight Howards', Bynums'. He would be ideal as a primary PF but dunno about him being a team's primary center... especially on squad like ours that lacks some athleticism in the front court.
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He'll play Center. He's bigger than Horford and at least half the starting centers in the NBA right now.

anchel · May 27, 2011

I disagree with that description by Chad.

rocketblaze · May 27, 2011

Htown's2kFinest said: ↑

From that ESPN article on Kanter mentioning his position in the NBA:

They put him as a PF that sometimes can play the center. Looking at his length, which is about the average for a NBA center today (just around an inch better than Hill's at 9'1") and average to slightly above average athleticism, I can see why they put him mainly as a PF. He doesn't have the superior length or athleticism that would make him stand out as a center with guys that jump higher, run faster, or have more length than him; i.e. the Nene's, Dwight Howards', Bynums'. He would be ideal as a primary PF but dunno about him being a team's primary center... especially on squad like ours that lacks some athleticism in the front court.
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Well if we get Kanter either Pat or Hill, both athletic 4's, will be the one's playing next to him. I think If we get Kanter, the Rockets will look to move Scola even if its not at equal value in return.

Htown's2kFinest · May 27, 2011

jopatmc said: ↑

He'll play Center. He's bigger than Horford and at least half the starting centers in the NBA right now.
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That's maybe his one thing he might have on some on the NBA centers is his 261lb frame. But Al Horford is quicker and more athletic than he is which gives him an advantage defending other centers. And Horford isn't much of a shot blocker either.

Just compare their no step vertical reach for instance. Horford's is at 11'6 to Kanter's (meh)11'3.5 no step vert reach. Here's a list of centers with the highest nsvr from top to bottom.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre...l&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=5&source=All&sort=11

Kanter is at the middle of the pack and if you look at the names that are right there with him, none of them stand out beside Kevin Love, who only plays PF and isn't a good defender. His max vertical reach compares better, with guys in that range e.g. Haywood(11'10"), Horford(11'10.5"), Nene(11'11") but they either have superior length and/or better athleticism. Maybe better comparison or best case scenario is Anderson Varejao with a little more offense.

arif1127 · May 27, 2011

Htown's2kFinest said: ↑

Maybe better comparison or best case scenario is Anderson Varejao with a little more offense.
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Having seen the same videos everyone else has, I can already tell that Kanter's offensive game will be light years ahead of Varejao's. Kanter has the ability to hit the 18-20 ft jumpers and has post moves, neither of which Varejao can do.

Htown's2kFinest · May 27, 2011

arif1127 said: ↑

Having seen the same videos everyone else has, I can already tell that Kanter's offensive game will be light years ahead of Varejao's. Kanter has the ability to hit the 18-20 ft jumpers and has post moves, neither of which Varejao can do.
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Well he'll still have to prove that at the next level. /

DouggYsTyLe06 · May 27, 2011

this is a good time to insert that picture of the afro american dancing with the words DIDNT READ on it

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