https://www.nydailynews .com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-enes-kanter-team-ownership-20190909-4q7sh6hcorf2bp3ifnmlpxadee-story.html
Despite all that New York has to offer in money and spotlight, the Knicks’ chase for superstar free agents has been defined by rejection.
According to Enes Kanter, who discussed this topic with his peers, there’s a specific reason for the failures: James Dolan.
“Not many people know that, but players talk. From different teams, they talk,” Kanter said on the Full 48 podcast with Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck. “I’m not blaming anybody. I had an amazing time with the Knicks. But other teammates I talked to or if they’re on different teams, they always said, ‘Amazing city, MSG is amazing. Everything is so good. But the ownership.’ They always keep saying, ‘But the ownership.’”
“I always tell them, the Knicks are amazing. It’s the Garden, it’s the Mecca. If you win in New York, you’re the king of the world. Some of the players are I guess scared to come here and don’t even want to deal with that.”
James Dolan has not been a favorite among the league's other majority share holders. (Frank Franklin II/AP)
Last summer was among the more embarrassing offseasons for the franchise after team president Steve Mills traded Kristaps Porzingis to create two max slots. The Knicks prepared elaborate pitches but couldn’t even get a meeting with their top targets.
Dolan’s physical presence around the players is minimal but his paranoia and hotheadedness casts a shadow over the franchise. Under Dolan, the Knicks have the worst record in the NBA over the last 19 years while simultaneously paying the most in luxury taxes.
Kanter didn’t want to provide details, but the center said he understood why the organization is stuck in the mud after spending 1 ½ seasons with the Knicks.
“I can tell. I don’t get into it too much. The players, when we get in the locker room, we talk about what’s going on,” he said. “And the players always see how the management or how ownership treat other players, treat other players around.”
It’s worth noting that Kanter is close with Porzingis, who lost faith in the Knicks after three years of avalanche losing and requested a trade.
Kanter also desired a relocation from New York after being benched by coach David Fizdale. The Knicks said Kanter’s demotion was a consequence of their youth movement, and the then 26-year-old was public about his displeasure. The Knicks subsequently traded for DeAndre Jordan — who is four years older than Kanter — and started him at center.
Enes Kanter held no ill will after leaving the Knicks for the Blazers. (David Zalubowski/AP)
The Knicks believed Jordan would help recruit Durant since they’re close friends. Instead, Jordan reportedly helped push Durant toward the Nets.
“I had no problem with my teammates. I was so cool with my teammates,” Kanter said. “I had a conversation with them. But I am a basketball player going out there to compete, I am going to try to win no matter what. That is just in my blood… And if someone — I’m not telling you the Knicks told me to do this — but if somebody is telling me the opposite, I’m not going to listen. My job is to go out there and play as hard as I can. Because the fans are paying so much money to come and see the game. Especially the Garden. My problem I guess that I wanted to win. Something that didn’t make sense is they told me I’m too old to play, and I was 26, and I was like, that doesn’t make sense. Then they bring in a guy four or five years older than me and they start playing him, I’m like, this doesn’t make sense. We had some stuff going on with the Knicks but I wish them the best.”
Kanter was released by the Knicks in February and joined the Blazers, who he helped advance to the Western Conference Finals as the starting center. Kanter signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Celtics in the summer.
“I was very happy (to be released by the Knicks),” he said. “It worked out for both sides because they were going to a different direction, they were going younger, and it worked out for me, it allowed me to get to the Western Conference finals.”
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