Among the potential returns in an Enes Kanter trade, the New York Knicks have considered Chicago Bulls forward Jabari Parker.
The New York Knicks and Enes Kanter are headed for divorce.
Currently, the team is searching for a partner to get their overzealous big man on a team where he can compete. The most recent rumored partner? Their Eastern Conference counterpart, the Chicago Bulls.
Kanter, 27, has no interest in losing games, which is often the cost of playing your young guys. He’s averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
The Knicks are gauging his market, with the Sacramento Kings coming up as a potential option. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first with reports of potential interest:
New York and Sacramento discussing an Enes Kanter-Zach Randolph trade of expiring contracts, but nothing close yet, league sources tell ESPN. Kings would want to send out more expirings in a deal. A third team could be helpful.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2019
But, more recently, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes that an Enes Kanter-Jabari Parker swap could be in the works:
“In trying to find a new home for Enes Kanter, among the scenarios recently discussed — though only in a preliminary stage — was the Knicks bringing back Chicago’s Jabari Parker, a source told the Daily News.”
Parker has been near-exiled by the Bulls, after signing a two-year/$40-million deal in the offseason. He’s averaging 14.7 points and 6.8 rebounds over 31 games with the team.
Bondy goes on to write that the Knicks and Bulls would likely need a third team to complete any deal. It’s likely the Kings would work themselves into the mix, as they try to rid of the salaries of Zach Randolph and Kosta Koufos.
New York has been linked to Parker in the past, when he was playing with Milwaukee, so this potential deal is something to keep an eye on. Kanter’s salary is expiring, and Parker’s second year is a team-option.
For now, the Knicks will travel on to London and square off with the John Wall-less Washington Wizards on Thursday. Tip-off is at 3:00 p.m. EST.
