Report: Enes Kanter returning to Celtics in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics are adding a familiar face in free agency.
Veteran big man Enes Kanter has agreed to a one-year contract with the Celtics, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Wednesday. Kanter's salary should fit under Boston's midlevel exception, The Athletic's Jared Weiss reports.
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The 29-year-old spent the 2019-20 season in Boston, averaging 8.1 points and 7.4 rebounds over 16.9 minutes per game as a serviceable backup big man. He enjoyed a strong season for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2020-21, averaging a double-double (11.2 points, 11.0 rebounds) while starting in 35 of a possible 72 contests.
The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy recently reported the Celtics are unlikely to use their $5.7 taxpayer midlevel exception this offseason while maintaining cap flexibility. New president of basketball operations Brad Stevens knows what he's getting in Kanter, though, so a reunion isn't surprising if the price works for both parties.
