BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics have bolstered their frontcourt with the addition of Turkish big man Enes Kanter.
After trading away Aron Baynes to Phoenix and Al Horford’s decision to sign with Philadelphia, the Celtics had a glaring hole in the frontcourt in need of addressing.
And with only a $4.8 million exception to work with, chances of Boston landing one of the top-tier free agent big men was slim.
Shams Charania of the Athletic reported Kanter’s deal is worth $10 million over two seasons with the second season being a player option.
But in signing the 6-foot-10 Kanter, Boston adds one of the more efficient low-post scoring big men, not just in this free agent class but in the NBA as a whole.
Heading into his ninth season, Kanter has shot better than 50 percent from the field in six of those seasons, including each of the last five.
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A career 29.4 percent 3-point shooter, Kanter is not much of a three-point threat.
But as much as he is heralded for his scoring acumen, Kanter is one of the more defensively challenged big men in the NBA.
In eight NBA seasons, he has had a negative plus/minus when he’s on the floor in five of those seasons, which includes each of the last two.
So looking at the Celtics roster that’s coming into shape, it’s clear that they will be looking more nights than not to simply outscore teams rather than shut them down.
And that makes the addition of Kanter, a career 54.1 percent shooter who averages 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, a logical one for Boston.
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