HoopsHype.com Rumors

Brian T. Smith: Not buying #UtahJazz are so high on Enes Kanter they're looking to deal Al Jefferson and haven't heard it. Kanter's a project. Especially .. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter 

League executives say the Utah Jazz's excitement over young big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors has them shopping Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. ESPN.com

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors, Paul Millsap, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: Kanter's definitely open to the move but everything about the situation has to be right. He needs the experience, though, and is being pushed to remain active. Saying the lockout hurts Kanter's development is an understatement. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Enes Kanter is being targeted by Olympiakos in Greece. Sportdog

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Greece, Olympiacos, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: #UtahJazz's Enes Kanter is already re-evaluating overseas options. Kanter wants to play somewhere and is tired of waiting around. Spain, China remain Kanter's most viable options. Decision not imminent, but talks could pick up later this week. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: #UtahJazz's Enes Kanter is still considering playing overseas if #NBA #lockout continues. Will explore options in Spain and China. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Spain, China, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: Connection with Ricky Rubio could lead Kanter to Spain if lockout continues. Nothing imminent, though. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Ricky Rubio, Lockout, Spain, China, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: Confirmation: #UtahJazz's Enes Kanter expected to match up against Al Jefferson for tonight's game. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Which NBA player's given him the best advice: Enes Kanter: I played with Tyson Chandler and Danny Granger, they helped me a lot. … They just said to 'Go to the basket, go to the basket. Shoot the ball.' When we played — I played with Tyson Chandler, Danny Granger and Ricky Rubio — they all say the same thing. Just go to the basket, no one can stop you, you're too strong. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Danny Granger, Ricky Rubio, Tyson Chandler, Enes Kanter 

Taking in the W.W.E. while living in the United States: Enes Kanter: Yeah, I've been to wrestling three or four times. … Not on TV, I was actually in the place. … It was great. I'm a huge W.W.E. fan. You know my favorite is Undertaker. It was just great. Maybe, I was just thinking, after my basketball career I can be a pro wrestler. … I saw one in Chicago and the other was in Cincinnati or something. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Enes Kanter 

Ricky Rubio has arrived. Well, sort of. He left Spain for Los Angeles last week and is there seeing the sights -- Malibu and Santa Monica last weekend -- while working out daily with NBA players. Yesterday, he played pickup ball on a team with Pacers star Danny Granger, Chicago's Joakim Noah, Utah rookie Enes Kanter and Cavs forward Omri Casspi. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Danny Granger, Ricky Rubio, Lockout, Joakim Noah, Omri Casspi, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: Jazz's Enes Kanter arrived in L.A. on Sunday, according to his agent. Played in pickup game Monday with Ricky Rubio, Paul Pierce, Danny Granger and Joakim Noah, agent said. Kanter plans to stay in L.A. for at least a week. Kanter's recent workouts with Tim Grover in Chicago went well, but time is right for Kanter to start playing against real competition. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Ricky Rubio, Joakim Noah, Enes Kanter 

Brian T. Smith: No plans for Kanter to sign overseas right now. Offers from Chinese teams are off the table since rule was passed. Kanter will wait ... Twitter

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Jazz rookie center Enes Kanter has returned to the United States and resumed workouts with trainer Tim Grover in Chicago. Grover worked out Kanter last summer during predraft sessions. Utah then selected the Turkey native with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Kanter plans to remain in Chicago for the immediate future, keeping an eye on the progress of the NBA lockout. Contract offers from Chinese professional teams are off the table. "The China thing, what happened is … Enes' priority is the NBA, as an NBA player," said Max Ergul, Kanter's agent. "Once [China] came up with that rule change — we thought they could've bent it around — it's just not happening. They're very stern; they don't want a player coming and leaving. I'm not going to put my signature on something that might force him to stay there for a whole season." Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Mete Aktas: Kobe Bryant and Enes Kanter will meet for the first time tonight in Istanbul. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Kobe Bryant, Enes Kanter 

Two summers ago, Kanter was the MVP of the European under-18 championships, averaging 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds per game and dominating his peers. Bringing him into the senior fold this summer, Turkish coach Orhun Ene wasn't entirely sure what to expect. With Cleveland Cavaliers center Semih Erden out with an injury, Ene had a vacancy, and Kanter, whom he passed on last summer, was willing to make his case for inclusion on the country's final 12-man roster for EuroBasket. "Throughout our warm-up games, he improved a lot," Ene said. Enough to earn himself a significant role. "It's difficult for players at the NBA level sometimes to adapt to European tournaments because European basketball is different. But he's understood what game he should play." ESPN.com

Utah Jazz, FIBA, Turkey, Enes Kanter, Eurobasket 

Mete Aktas: One day after assistant coach Izic has said “All the coaching staff and people around basketball think that it is too early for him to go there (to the NBA)“ about Enes Kanter in an article written by Wendell Maxey of beyondthebeat.net (http://tinyurl.com/3ndf3ll), head coach Orhun Ene cleared the air by protesting his assistan’s comments. Ene who spoke to Turkish Basketball Federation’s website tbf.org.tr (http://tinyurl.com/4xa66zn) said that he strongly objects Izic’s opinions about Kanter. The first year head coach underlined that the 6`11 center with his athleticism, talents and knowledge of the game is already on a better level than several big man playing in the NBA. “As the head coach of Turkish National Team I’m not the only one who’s happy about the performance of Enes Kanter’s in the national team. All my assistans, all of the executives, to sum it all everybody is happy with Enes and every one of us strongly believe that he will be very succesful both in the NBA and Turkish National Team” said Ene. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Turkey, Enes Kanter 

Orhun Ene also praised Kanter who did not play competitive basketball for the past 1.5 year. “Although he didn’t play for nearly one and a half year he quickly adapted to our team and established a position where he can show his basketball skills. Though he is very young what he can do on the basketball court is unbelievable. I believe that he’ll even be better before Eurobasket 11 in Lithuania starts which is a great news for us.” Twitter

Utah Jazz, Turkey, Enes Kanter 

But not everyone around Kanter’s native country and even national team is so sure the rookie for the Utah Jazz and third overall pick in June’s NBA Draft is ready to leave his mark on the NBA. Certainly not right now at 19-years old and surely without major game play over the past two years after a failed college career at Kentucky. “All the coaching staff and people around basketball think that it is too early for him to go there (to the NBA),” said Nihat Izic, an assistant head coach of the Turkey National Team told Beyond the Beat. “He has the chance to play in the Euro League and then after that, when you feel you are ready, then you go to the NBA. He decided to go, and I’m not sure who gave him that advice. I don’t want to go there.” Beyond The Beat

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter 

Wendell Maxey: enes kanter has had offers from two teams in china, but that was before leagues recent mandate. now a return to turkey becomes an option. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Lockout, Enes Kanter