Friday Bolts – 8.7.15
Fran Blinebury of NBA.com has Enes Kanter on his shortlist for possible Most Improved: “Did Kanter improve or was he just given more of a chance to play after being traded at the deadline by the Utah Jazz? He averaged 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 26 games with the Thunder. That got him the whopping offer sheet from Portland that OKC had to match, even if it meant overpaying. His numbers aren’t likely to go higher. In fact, his points will probably drop with the return of a healthy Kevin Durant to the lineup. But now Kanter gets to reap the benefits of playing with Durant and Russell Westbrook, which means just hanging around the post and receiving passes for even easier shots. If he’s going to be a serious contender for the award, Kanter will have to show that he’s more than just a disinterested spectator on defender and use his size — even just raise his arms — to try to protect the rim. If new coach Billy Donovan can get higher effort there — with Serge Ibaka at his back — a lot could be looking back up in OKC after a lost season.”
Ben Dowsett for Basketball Insiders on Enes Kanter: “OKC brass is banking on a change of scenery and coaching to help nurture his continued development. He’s still only 23, and with the futures of Durant and Westbrook uncertain, Kanter could serve as an insurance policy of sorts. But he has so much ground to make up in certain areas, and has offered so little proof that he’s capable of doing so. If he can’t make major strides, $17.5 million a year could be a thorn in a typically frugal front office’s side even with an increasing cap.”
Kevin Durant rejecting children is always great.
Jay King of MassLive on if the Celtics might waive Perry Jones: “One problem with potentially waiving Jones: largely an unknown commodity, the 23-year-old theoretically possesses a load of untapped potential. During his time with the Thunder, James Harden called Jones ‘probably the most athletic (player) on the team’ — while the team featured Russell (bleeping) Westbrook — and Kevin Durant labeled Jones the best athlete in the league. The 6-foot-11 Jones is a long, versatile wing who has strung together some impressive stretches on NBA courts, and there’s a chance he could look substantially better in Brad Stevens’ system. This is a guy with tools.”
Word is the Thunder are presently slated to play at home on Christmas.
Good piece on Roy Hibbert from my man Baxter Holmes.
If you don’t know what basketball is, this is a really weird headline.
The Premier League starts tomorrow. COYI.
