Blazers sign center Enes Kanter
PORTLAND, Ore. – Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
“I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship,” he said on the post. “Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans. It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level.”
Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team – with the worst record in the league – turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.
The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then any spot at all in recent weeks.
The Blazers previously made a fouryear, $70 million offer for Kanter in 2015 when he was a restricted free agent, but the Thunder matched it.
Kanter will play behind Portland’s starting center Jusuf Nurkic in a strong second unit that includes Seth Curry, Jake Layman, Rodney Hood and Evan Turner.
Cavaliers’ Love sitting out final game before All-star break: Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will sit out the final game before the All-star break to get further rest following foot surgery.
Love has not suffered any setbacks since returning last week to play for the first time since having the operation in November. The five-time All-star has played in two games.
The Cavaliers have been pleased with his recovery and don’t want to push things. After facing the Nets on Wednesday, Cleveland won’t play again until Feb. 21.
The 30-year-old Love played just six minutes against Washington in his first action since Oct. 24. He rested the following night at Indiana, then played nearly 16 minutes on Monday against the Knicks, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds.
Love initially injured his foot in Cleveland’s final exhibition game. He is averaging 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in six games.
Thomas says hip is mended and he’s nearing Nuggets debut: Isaiah Thomas says his surgically repaired hip has mended enough to allow him to soon make his Denver Nuggets debut.
The point guard’s first appearance in a Nuggets jersey could be Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. Thomas said he will be a game-time decision but feels like he’s ready. Thomas, who turned 30 last week, hasn’t played in an NBA game since suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers last March.
Grizzlies sign forward Bruno Caboclo to multi-year deal: The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Bruno Caboclo to a multi-year contract after having first signing him to consecutive 10day contracts.
Terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed.
The 6-foot-9 Caboclo has started one of his 10 games played for Memphis averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in 21.1 minutes. He has either set or tied his NBA single-game career highs for points, three-pointers made, free throws made, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks with the Grizzlies.
Caboclo was the 20th pick overall in 2014 by Toronto and also has played with Sacramento. He started 23 of his 28 games with the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers earlier this season.
— Wire services