NBA trade news: Blazers get Enes Kanter in trade with Celtics, Grizzlies

NBA veteran center Enes Kanter is headed back to the Blazers in a three-team trade involving the Celtics and Grizzlies, sending Mario Hezonja to Memphis.

After exercising his player option with the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Enes Kanter is reportedly on the move to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal including the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Kanter reunites with his former team that he left for the Celtics in 2019.

Portland is acquiring Boston's Enes Kanter in a three-way deal with Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis gets Mario Hezonjia and 30th pick (Desmond Bane) from draft night deal as part of trade too. Celtics get a future Memphis draft consideration.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 20, 2020

Home Sweet Home ❤️🖤

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 20, 2020

The Celtics and Memphis had previously came to terms on a deal centered around the 30th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, which transformed into TCU wing Desmond Bane. The deal wasn't completely submitted at the time, with Kanter now joining the package.

Memphis also will acquire Mario Hezonja from the Trail Blazers as part of the deal. The four-year forward saw a drop in productivity with Portland last season and could be looking to revitalize his career in Memphis with more playing time. He only averaged 16.4 minutes of playing time last season, about four minutes shy of his playing time with the New York Knicks.

With the Celtics likely looking to shed down their bigs rotation to only Daniel Theis and Robert Williams, Kanter became the odd man out in the deal. He didn't show much promise during his lone year with the Celtics, and his playing time began to diminish after Williams returned from injury. Kanter opted into his $5 million player option on Thursday, but now gives the Celtics a bit more cap space ahead of free agency. The Turkish big man averaged 8.1 points along with grabbing 7.4 boards with Boston.

Portland likely made the move to acquire Enes Kanter with the inevitability of moving on from Hassan Whiteside on the horizon. Whiteside is set to be a free agent and could command a heavier contract than what the Trail Blazers are willing to give up.