Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks: 3 free-agent centers to strengthen the bench

By Joshua Buckhalter

Jun 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter (11) before the game five against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter (11) before the game five against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks free-agent center No. 1: Enes Kanter would be a great addition for his rebounding ability alone

Enes Kanter is a really good rebounder. Like, historically good. So it should come as no surprise that he averaged 11 rebounds per game with the Portland Trailblazers, placing him eighth in the NBA. Except he only started half the season, stepping in for the injured Jusuf Nurkic. As a starter, Kanter averaged 13.2 boards.

That would have been good enough for third overall behind only Capela and Rudy Gobert. That is fairly elite company.

This was just the second time Kanter has averaged double-digit rebounds for an entire season. But he has had two other stints where he was traded mid-season and did it with his new team, and his rate stats further show he’s among the best on the glass.

Kanter also chipped in 13.3 points per game as a starter and 11.2 points per game overall.

One of 15 players to average a double-double during the regular season, Kanter did not perform as well in the postseason. To be fair, though, the Blazers weren’t great as a team.

Kanter has never been known as a great defender. But this is for bench minutes, hopefully limiting opponents’ ability to take advantage of him. And the Hawks boast one of the better young, defensive wing duos in Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter to help with penetration or pick and rolls, where he’s as his most vulnerable.

His last deal paid him $9.7 million over two years, just under what Atlanta can pay with the exception. Kanter would be a solid bench addition.