After getting yanked around and receiving the first DNP of his NBA career in Wednesday night’s wild loss to the Rockets, Knicks center Enes Kanter didn’t mince words — saying the Knicks should trade him if they have no plans to give him time, and adding he’s being mistreated.
“I think what they’re doing to me is pretty messed up,’’ Kanter said, referring to coach David Fizdale’s flip-flop.
Fizdale, according to Kanter, told him at the morning meeting he would start against the Rockets. However, the coach changed his mind later in the day. Kanter was told by assistant coach Keith Smart before the loss that he’d be coming off the bench.
Kanter was waiting by his locker, fully dressed, when reporters arrived following the 114-110 game.
“They told me this morning that I’m starting,’’ Kanter said. “Now I come to the game and I didn’t even play. I’m trying to be a good teammate, but I want to play basketball. If you’re going to play me here, play me. If not, just get me out of here.”
The Knicks have looked to trade Kanter, but perhaps a buyout is the better solution. Whether Fizdale changed his mind for strategic reasons or, as a conspiracy theorist might suggest, is trying to toy with Kanter is unclear. The Knicks coach said Tuesday that Kanter likely would start.
Instead, Fizdale moved Noah Vonleh from power forward to center and inserted Lance Thomas at power forward to compensate for the ankle injury to Luke Kornet. The coach said he needed more speed on defense because of the Rockets’ excessive use of pick-and-rolls. Kanter never got off the pine and said he was never told why Fizdale changed his mind.
“It’s so frustrating,’’ Kanter said. “In the meeting he said I was starting. Now it’s coming here and coming to the game ready to go and I sit on the bench.
“What they’re doing is pretty messed up. I deserve way better. They didn’t explain me anything. I’m just going to let my agent handle it. I love the Knicks, don’t get me wrong. I love the crowd and MSG and have love for this city, but I want to play basketball. Either play me or just let me play someplace.”