The Boston Celtics have been monitoring the progress of Utah Jazz C Enes Kanter for some time, and the recent news that Kanter is pursuing a trade put the Celtics' front office on high alert.
Kanter is averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game this season, but he's reportedly growing frustrated with his role and his playing time. The Jazz have brought him along slowly since taking him with the third overall pick back in 2011, and his minutes have regressed in January and February despite a very strong series of performances in December that saw him playing over 30 minutes per contest. In the month of December, Kanter upped his averages to 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
The Celtics have several promising big men on the roster already, but only two true centers - Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller. Olynyk and Zeller could both stand to improve on the glass, and Kanter would provide an immediate rebounding upgrade for a team that traded their second-leading rebounder - PG Rajon Rondo - to Dallas. Danny Ainge knows he needs better rebounding at the center position (Olynyk and Zeller are both averaging under 6 per game), and Kanter would immediately improve that facet of Boston's game.
CSN's Sherrod Blakely reports that the Celtics are unlikely to make a move yet, but they're monitoring the situation closely. It sounds like Kanter's agent (who hasn't ever been much of a fan of the Jazz organization) wants his client elsewhere, and given how quickly things can change in basketball, it wouldn't shock us at all if he ends up in Boston before the deadline.
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