The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to keep Enes Kanter for what is viewed as an expensive deal in order to convince superstar Kevin Durant to stay when he becomes a free agent next year.
Kanter, who was acquired by the Thunder in a trade with the Utah Jazz last season, signed a four-year offer sheet worth $70 million from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Since Kanter was a restricted free agent, the Thunder could just match the offer to keep their projected starting center for next season. While the contract is considered by most analysts as too much for a player like Kanter, the Thunder eventually decided to match the offer to keep the 23-year-old big man.
According to Andrew Sharp of Grantland, most executives and team officials were surprised of the decision with one saying that he cannot see how Kanter got a maximum deal. It should be noted that the Thunder decided not to offer a four-year, $60 million contract to James Harden before, which eventually led to Harden's move to Houston.
Kanter averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in his 49 games with the Utah Jazz last season. When he was traded to the Thunder, his numbers went up -- 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in 26 games. But still, most analysts still view the signing as one way to show Durant that they are determined to win in the coming years.
"Everyone around the NBA has a take on Kanter's contract, and each side thinks the other is crazy. It's a perfect storm to piss everyone off," Sharp wrote. "This is a sign of the year to come for the Thunder, for whom every decision will be twice as dramatic in light of Kevin Durant's free agency next summer."
When the Trail Blazers signed Kanter to an offer sheet, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports also pointed out that the Thunder will be forced to match the contract because of pressure brought by Durant's impending free agency.
"Oklahoma City will feel immense pressure to show star Kevin Durant a strong commitment to winning in the final year of his contract, and Kanter is an important part of the Thunder's nucleus," Wojnarowski noted. "The possibility of losing a young player of Kanter's talent for no assets is extremely remote for the Thunder."
Durant, who has spent his entire career with the franchise, will become an unrestricted free agent. Several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly planning to make a strong push to sign the former Most Valuable Player next summer.
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