The LA Clippers reportedly have interest in adding Enes Kanter, but if two-way players are a top priority, they should shy away from signing him.
On Saturday evening, ESPN’s Royce Young reported that Portland Trail Blazers big Enes Kanter is drawing interest from numerous teams in free agency, including the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers and Sacramento Kings. And while the Clippers are certainly in need of depth down low, Kanter probably isn’t the guy we want to pursue.
The main reason here is that Kanter doesn’t fit in with what the Clippers have going on. The Clippers are focused on adding two-way players with plenty of potential on both ends of the floor, and Kanter hardly services on the defensive end despite his large frame.
On offense, he leaves something to be desired as well. The near-seven-footer connected on 54.9 percent of his field goal attempts this past season, while also shooting 29.4 percent from three-point range. He’s not exactly a floor-stretcher because of that, and that’s a role that the Clippers will likely need to fill as JaMychal Green prepares to earn a big contract from another team in free agency.
The cultural fit is also in area in which Kanter could be an outsider. Over the last few seasons, the Clippers have established themselves as a team that operates with a gritty style of play and one that refuses to be beat. And while Kanter is certainly a physical player, he doesn’t play with the same hard-nosed style that guys like Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley do.
The biggest reason why the Clippers should avoid Kanter, though, is because there are plenty of other bigs on the market that better fulfill the roles that the Clippers are in need of.
Players like Kevon Looney, for example, are ones that the team should consider before they look at Kanter.
Looney just finished up an impressive season with the Golden State Warriors, but where he really began to shine was the postseason. In 21 games, he averaged 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per contest and was arguably the most efficient player in Golden State’s opening round series against the Clippers.
Later on in the postseason, Looney fractured his collarbone and missed only a game for it — something that shows he’s willing to win no matter what, which is something that the Clippers exemplified all season long.
Like Kanter, Looney isn’t a floor-stretcher either. But he makes up for it with a more physical style of play and excellent defensive ability.
If Kanter is someone the LA Clippers are focused on, then surely they feel confident enough about his abilities. But in all honesty, he’s not much of an upgrade over incumbent center Ivica Zubac, and the Clippers would likely be better off spending their money elsewhere this offseason.