Summary

Kanter's shortcomings are well documented, and relate primarly due his defense, specifically, his ability to defend in space. This was most evident in the 2016 playoffs, when after playing a key role in the Thunder's series victory over the Spurs, Kanter became virtually unplayable against the Warriors. The next year the Thunder lost to Houston in the playoffs, with Kanter's defense causing him to be unplayable again.

 

Once again, this occurred in the 2019 playoffs. Despite admirably filling in for the injured Jusuf Nurkic and helping Portland reach the Western Conference Finals, Kanter once again struggled to stay on the floor against the Warriors. However, Kanter is an efficient scorer, an elite rebounder, and can be hidden on defense with the right scheme and against the right opponent.

​

Cap Considerations

Kanter has a $5 million player option for next season, and if he declines that option he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $5.7 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. If Kanter opts for free agency, the Celtics will be limited in their means of re-signing him.

 

Since the Celtics will only have his Non-Bird Rights, the most they could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is a contract starting at $5.7 million. However, the Celtics could use their Mid-Level Exception to re-sign Kanter as well. The Celtics will likely have the full $9.8 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception available, which they could use all or part of to re-sign Kanter. Using the full $9.3 million on Kanter could push the Celtics into the luxury tax, depending on what happens with other offseason moves.

 

Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Kanter as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him.