Thunder Trying To Trade Enes Kanter; Should The Blazers Step In?

TheOklahoma City Thunder可能是想摆脱salary in order to make room for free agent big manAl Horford, according toBrian Windhorst of ESPN. Horford's acquisition would go a long way toward securing their own free agent,Kevin Durant, after trading starting power forwardSerge Ibakato theOrlando Magic.

The most feasible way for the Thunder to clear a significant amount of cap is to find a team that is willing to trade forEnes KanterandKyle Singler. Per Windhorst, that is their intention:

Over the past several days, the Thunder have sought out teams with open salary-cap space to possibly absorb Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler, sources said. The Thunder have other methods of opening cap space, including waivingAnthony Morrow, whose contract isn't guaranteed until July 15.

Kanter has three years remaining on his 4yr/$70M contract, clocking in at $17.1 million in 2016-17 and $17.9 million in 2017-18 with an $18.6 million player option in 2018-19.

Singler is locked in at just under $5 million per season through 2018-19 with a $5.3 million team option for the 2019-20 season.

While theTrail Blazerscould also be looking to lure Horford to the Pacific Northwest, they could fall back and capitalize on the Thunder’s cap situation by taking Kanter and the remainder of his contract off their hands. The Trail Blazers had tried to sign the Turkish center to a max offer sheet last summer when he was restricted, but the Thunder matched to retain him.

If the Trail Blazers are still interested, now may be the time to strike. But are they still interested? While they could technically make room for Kanter, who possesses a polished offensive game, he does not fit the team’s major need for the 2016-17 season; a rim protector. They appear more likely to aim forHassan Whiteside,Dwight Howard, or potentially Horford if the Thunder fail in their pursuit.