For Enes Kanter, it’s about playing again.
Sure, the debate surrounding the 6-foot-11 center from Turkey will focus on his his skill, length, bounce, touch and any other NBA draft jargon one could think of.
But the most important stat on Kanter’s draft profile? Zero. – Anthony Olivieri
Stay connected with LostLettermen.com via Facebook, Twitter, E-Mail & RSS Follow @lostlettermen 
That’s the number of meaningful games he has played since 2010, when he piqued the interest of scouts with a phenomenal performance at the Nike Hoop Summit.
Yes, he dominated Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger at that event, collecting 34 points – a Hoop Summit record – and 13 rebounds.
Before that, he played one year of high school basketball at Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, California, in 2009-10. According to NBADraft.net, he was somewhat inconsistent in his lone prep season.
OK, but what about the rest of his resume?
He was named the MVP of the FIBA Europe Under-18 championship, averaging 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds.
At 16-years old, Kanter was dominating in his home country, where he joined a professional team, Fenerbahçe Ãœlker, while still a teenager. He played in nine games for the club – four in the renowned Euroleague and five in the Turkish League.
He then was offered lucrative contracts from Ulker and Greece’s Olympiacos, both of which he turned down for a chance to move to the United States.
That’s where things halted for Kanter – minus his one-year high school stint – whose professional experience in Europe put his amateur status in peril. It reportedly wasn’t the checks he earned but the pro perks he received.
The benefits weren’t as lavish in the U.S. Kanter had to enroll in three high schools before landing at one where he could play. Most schools refused to play against him.
College wasn’t any easier.
After not honoring a verbal commitment from the University of Washington, Kanter chose John Calipari’s Kentucky squad, but the NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible. The Wildcats’ appeal was denied.
Usually, it’s the other way around. High schools and colleges move mountains to get guys in the game. Kanter, thanks to nine pro games as a teenager, has been on a seemingly endless journey to play big-time basketball.
But he’ll get there. In fact, some mock drafts had him going first overall before last night and it’s a safe bet there’s no way he goes past No. 5.
Kanter certainly has an NBA skill set. Nearly all draft evaluators agree that he has a diverse game, one which allows him to post up or face the basket. He can pass, shoot free throws and get this … he’s coachable.
Though, a quick glance at his weaknesses in NBADraft.net provides this: “One of the big concerns scouts have with Kanter is his physical health. He has had a history of knee problems and there are concerns about his knees not checking out 100 percent when he has NBA physicals.”
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for someone in whom a team will invest millions of dollars.
So, don’t think this is one of those anti-European rants. They aren’t all soft. Dirk Nowitzki is proving that right now.
It’s not an excuse to rail against the NCAA; that’s too easy.
It’s more about the prevailing wisdom about drafts and how we evaluate its prospects. Without belittling draftniks, let’s take a step back and analyze Kanter by simplifying the process.
His reputation grew based on one game. He hasn’t played in over a year. And he has bad knees.
Of course, Kanter then was compared to Larry Bird.
Not really.
But Kanter has been compared favorably to Al Horford, a veteran college player who was a member of two national championship teams at Florida. It seems the two couldn’t be further apart.
And for that matter, Kyrie Irving is being tabbed as the next Chris Paul. The former Duke point guard played in just 11 college games and was anointed the top overall pick in the draft after one phenomenal 31-point performance against Michigan State in December.
It’s tough to live up to those expectations, but maybe it’s easier to evaluate the draft than originally thought. Just keep it simple.
There was a reason Derrick Rose led Memphis to the NCAA title game. Kevin Durant was a machine at Texas. Paul was a top point guard in a good ACC for two years.
Listen, Kanter may end up being a good player. I’ll admit to never seeing him play, save for some YouTube highlights, but his red flags certainly do stare you in the face.
If you’re an NBA general manager, watch college basketball – the cream always rises to the top, even if the player’s team doesn’t.
For Kanter, maybe it was a mistake to leave Europe – where he could have developed his game – and risked trying to compete in the NCAA, an organization so uptight about eligibility rules that Kanter had no shot.
Bill Simmons and Chad Ford argue about this topic in Simmons’ latest podcast. Simmons thinks Kanter should have made sure he played somewhere; Ford warns that young players who sign long-term European deals – skipping a chance in college – with no NBA out-clauses can sometimes get buried in favor of veterans.
Ford also informed us that Kanter’s father does stem cell research, so he didn’t need the money right away.
And if Kanter is picked in the top five in June’s draft, it won’t matter that he never played at Rupp Arena. He did the right thing.
It’s only fitting that the Cleveland Cavaliers own the first and fourth overall picks. If any team knows unfulfilled promise, it’s the Cavaliers.
Anthony Olivieri is the managing editor of LostLettermen.com. His column appears each Wednesday.
