The Utah Jazz might be content to let center Enes Kanter hit restricted free agency nex summer. Grantland's Zach Lowe expects Utah to extend Alec Burks, but not Kanter, leading to the possibility of the Jazz shopping the 6-foot-11 big man.
Kanter has until Oct. 31 to be extended by Utah, or he'll become a restricted free agent in July. With about two weeks left until the deadline, Lowe doesn't see an extension happening for Kanter.
"As a wing player who has mostly come off the pine, Burks might settle more readily for a compromise number," Lowe wrote Tuesday. Kanter is a big man with bigger dreams, and the Jazz have Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert on the roster."
Lowe didn't dismiss Kanter as not being worth an extension, but rather pointed to the murky uncertainty for the upcoming salary cap in the wake of the NBA's multi-billion dollar TV deal.
"Extension talks are in chaos as teams and agents wait for the league to provide salary cap clarity," Lowe wrote. "Teams might be eager to lock in long-term deals that will morph into bargains, but agents are wary of signing long-term contracts for the same reason. Being known for signing an under-market contract is bad for luring future clients."
Kanter averaged a solid 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for a lackluster Jazz team, and his qualifying offer is worth $7.47 million next season if Utah decides to pick it up. It's possible, though, Utah looks instead to trade him before the February deadline if they don't foresee themselves and Kanter's camp reaching an agreement for a new contract.
