Four seasons after the Utah Jazz selected him with the third pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, relations seem to have soured irrevocably between the team and Enes Kanter.
The Turkish-born power forward has reportedly become fed up over his role with the team, and has notified both the Jazz and the media that he wants to be traded before the 2015 deadline.
Kanter is apparently so frustrated that he refused to board the team's charter plane following the team's 87-82 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Rather than travel with the team back to Salt Lake City to prepare for Friday's match-up with Portland, Kanter journeyed on his own to Pennsylvania for personal reasons. A player that was once supposed to be the cornerstone of the team's future is now in full AWOL mode.
Utah Jazz beat reporter Jody Genessy ably recounted the entire soap opera on Twitter late Wednesday night:
Enes Kanter's agent Max Ergul has been asking for a trade for years and has turned up the heat on Jazz management lately, per sources.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 12, 2015
Enes Kanter isn't returning to Utah on the Jazz charter. He's headed to Pennsylvania to hang out with friends. — Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 12, 2015
In light of this news, it was interesting to see Enes Kanter give Jeremy Evans a hug and to tell Derrick Favors he'd see him again.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 12, 2015
Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey is in Dallas with the team but has not replied for a comment. — Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 12, 2015
For the record, Enes Kanter is not going to hang out with the Amish in Pennsylvania. I asked.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) February 12, 2015
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