DENVER — Enes Kanter said after the Knicks’ eighth straight loss late Tuesday he met with Knicks general manager Scott Perry on New Year’s Eve for a heart-to-heart to express his frustration with the losing and his diminishing role, but clarified he has not asked to be traded.
Kanter came off the bench for the third straight game Tuesday for starter Luke Kornet and told two reporters after Monday’s practice to ask him about his future with the Knicks after the Nuggets game. Kanter met with Perry after that practice.
“I even asked Scott, if you were in my situation, what would you do?’’ Kanter said. “He said, ‘the whole league knows you. Right now, we know that you are a very, very good basketball player. Now I want you to go out there and try to have that good character, try to be a good teammate, and try to help all the people.’ I understand we’re not winning a lot right now. But I guess it’s all for the young guys.”
So is Kanter content for now with his situation?
“I did not ask for a trade, no. I did not say, ‘Scott, try and trade me.’ No I did not say that,’’ Kanter said. “ Because I like it here a lot. And I probably won’t say to Scott’s face, ‘Scott I want to get traded.’ Because I like it here a lot. But again, in the end, we all are competitors, basketball players. I like it here so much, but again I want to win. I want this team to get to the playoffs one day. This is my blood, man, I’m sorry. If anyone asks anything else, I’m not going to do it. I’m going out there to get a win every time.”
Kanter emphasized he does not want to lose like this. The Knicks are tied in the loss column for the league’s worst record at 9-29 and have lost eight games in a row and 13-of-14.
“Coming from the bench or starting, it’s not really that important,’’ Kanter said. “It’s really not that important. If you’re winning, if you are winning, I’m fine with playing zero minutes. But it’s just very hurtful and very sad to see my teammates out there battling and losing. I understand we’re trying to get the young guys better. I hate the losing, man. I’m sorry but I’m not going to accept losing. So every time I’m out there, I’m gonna try to do my best to get a win.”
NBA sources say Kanter can help a playoff contender but a trade will be difficult because of his $18 million expiring contract. The Knicks would need to get back that money in expiring dollars to protect their cap space. Kanter has to decide if he would be willing to accept a buyout and take a little less to play for a playoff contender.
There’s plenty of time to change his mind.
“All this anger and frustration is coming from losing,’’ Kanter said. “It’s not fun to lose 12, 13, whatever in a row. It’s not fun. It’s just tough, man. But obviously I had a meeting with Scott [Monday]. We talked about — he just said, ‘You know, this is the growth. This is one of your biggest tests in your career, so just try to be a good teammate.’
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do. Just help the young guys and try to be the best teammate you can be. So that’s what I’m trying to do. This organization is paying me. I don’t want no free money. So every time I’m out there I’m going to try to get a win. The second is just it’s a little weird, people are calling me from all over the league. They’re just saying keep your head up and stay strong. Even my own teammates are texting me and telling me just stay strong and keep your head up. I know what I’m capable of. I know this is the situation so I’m just sucking it up and trying to be a good teammate.”
Mitchell Robiinson is expected back during this road trip — which means Kanter’s playing time could dwindle further. He scored 17 points with 12 rebounds against the Nuggets but sat the final eight minutes.
“I told Scott — we talked about that, too. I told Scott, look, you know I like it here. I like this place. I like this organization,’’ Kanter said. “I like these fans. I like everybody. And he said, ‘I know.’ But I just told him again I want to play basketball. I want to go out there and win. Right now this is our situation. We’re just trying to help the young guys get better. That’s it.”