Shocks me that people are arguing that Kanter is better right now than Favors. At the very least you could argue that he has potential to be better or will be better next season, that would at least get a little more respect for your argument.
After 3 years of bad treatment Kanter just lost motivation giving his best for the Jazz. He is just much better right know, rebounding more, scoring more and with better efficiency and he is also passing the ball... He is playing around the same amount of minutes their. OKC Version of Kanter, ist just not the same player he was here... That´s the first time dude has really luck in his life and will get paid huge this summer.
So as gandalfe said, Kanter's weakness is still 5-on-5 basketball after 5,000+ mins in the NBA? Is there any other kind of basketball...well, outside the And1 tournaments? But wait, he's "the best player of his generation" as stated by Max Ergul. Dude doesn't need to learn anything; he's already greater than anyone else his age.
He averaged 13, 15, 27 and 27 mins. with Utah. Care to reference how many minutes players like Anthony Bennett, Otto Porter and Alex Len got as rookies? Even Derrick Favors didn't get a ton as a rookie. Kanter was NOT an NBA player coming into the league; he was a project who had been out of basketball for a year. As I've repeatedly said, only in Year #2 can you make an argument he was underutilized.
PERHAPS Utah should have moved Jefferson that season. But when? Before the year, it was still uncertain Kanter would be a top-tier starter. Big Al was a near 20-10 player and the Jazz were trying to make the playoffs. So you undermine that by letting him go at the deadline? And at his salary, there just weren't many possible destinations. I know because I looked at every single playoff team to see if he could fit financially and roster-wise. So the Jazz did EXACTLY what they should have done. Kept all their bigs for a playoff push (they barely missed), then committed to Kanter by telling Big Al goodbye. Enes got his chance (TWICE) to be the center of the future for Utah but didn't put up.
But you're right; I shouldn't place all of the blame on Enes. Most of it is Rudy's fault. Gobert is just too damn good and too damn passionate about winning and playing dominant defense. And Snyder cares too damn much about the Jazz being accountable for defense. Kanter is going to anchor a team like Charlotte in the future. A team will overpay to grab him because some stupid GM only looks at box scores and sees a 20/10 player. I have no doubt Enes will average that - or more. But I have serious concerns a team he plays on will ever be a contender.
Favors actually is a better offensive player than Kanter. Faves gets to the line more often, shoot the 3rd highest % of any player in the league in the restricted area, has shot the J more efficiently at around 40% and is much much better defensively which makes choosing Faves a no brainer. Favors also is a better passer and sports the 12 highest PER of any player in the league.
As CY said, Kanter is a better offensive rebounder and i'll concede he's a better free throw shooter.
Shocks me that people are arguing that Kanter is better right now than Favors. At the very least you could argue that he has potential to be better or will be better next season, that would at least get a little more respect for your argument.
Favors is clearley a better all around player and is much better right now... But in OKC, Kanter is improving fast..
It is curious that Kanter that was labeled as an "empty points" player like Al Jefferson now he is carrying OKC to the playoffs with his points and playing suddenly winning basketball. Time to admit that some Jazz Kanter fans were right to support him. You don't trade an emerging young big that can guarantee easily 20 points and 10 rebounds for peanuts. You can trade him if he does not fit with team system but not trading him as a gift without the right reward.
Al never produced empty points... When he played for Utah, they were a legit play-off team in the West with a bad coach. When he left us, we got one of the worst teams in the NBA... Before he joined the Bobcatts, they were the worst team in NBA and after he joined them. they become a legit playoff team.
First of all no one is arguing that Kanter does not have potential because he does. We are arguing that Favors is better. I have not missed a single Jazz game for at least a decade. Second of all no one knows what Kanter is playing for except him. He might be fighting for a playoff spot and for his teammates but he might be fighting for more money. What we do know is that he was not putting in a good effort in Utah and was not concerned about his teammates. He was a selfish player who cared about his own stats. Maybe that suddenly changed...
I never hinted at Al being an empty points player, I was sarcastic. I like to watch offensive players playing they make the game more fun.
The regular season is mainly offense. Defense become fundamental in the playoffs.
Kanter is putting up numbers playing off of Westbrook. Kanter is a 2nd or 3rd option and what he's doing in OKC is working.
23/12 in his last 3 games is nothing to sneeze at. I'm pretty sure OKC is happy with the fit.
He's a Kevin Love-type player.
Kanter has Russell Westbrook. That make scoring a lot easier.
There was no bigger supporter of Kanter the last four years then me. I believe the Jazz got completely hosed in the trade and I knew that he would shine in OKC. But even the most ardent supporters have to admit the one benefit of this trade has been watching Gobert in a starting role. He has been amazing.
At the end of the day it doesn't matter if Kanter ends up being an all star. It doesn't matter that he becomes a 20 point 10 rebound machine. He is gone and he isn't coming back. I've had to come to grips with that and so do all the other Kanter supporters.
Given the choice between he and Gobert I would take Gobert, though.
I just checked in to this thread, so maybe this was already said....
Kanter wanted to go. It is important to keep that part of the story alive, because it is the reason he is gone. It wasn't just that he had a bad day and let it slip out that he wanted a trade. The jazz and Enes had a rocky start and a bumpy relationship and it wasn't improving. It wasn't a big secret either. I heard Lindsey, Locke, and Checketts all say as much with carefully chosen words.
Enes will put up good to great numbers for many years. He will probably jump around to several teams. He might be an All star. Rather than grumbling about our jazz each time, remember that Enes Kanter didn't want to be here.