SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz announced Thursday they have traded center Enes Kanter and forward Steve Novak to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a deal involving three teams.
According to a press release, the Jazz acquired rookie forward Grant Jerret, the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss, center Kendrick Perkins and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City. They also got a second-round pick for 2017 from the Detroit Pistons as part of the deal. Oklahoma City also received guard D.J. Augustin and forward Kyle Singler from Detroit. The Pistons picked up guard Reggie Jackson from the Thunder.
“This trade allowed us to add assets while helping to maintain flexibility for the future,” stated Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey in the press release. “Trades like this are never easy, but we thank Enes and Steve for their contributions to the team and in the community and wish them well as they move forward in their careers.”
Kanter appeared in 49 games for the Jazz this season, and he averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes. Novak averaged 2.2 points and 0.7 rebounds in the course of 22 games.
The press release from the Utah Jazz included details and specifics regarding their newly acquired players, and that information has been reproduced in its entirety below:
Jerrett (6-10, 232, Arizona) has seen action in five games as a reserve for Oklahoma City this season, recording 1.4 points in 5.0 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old rookie forward has also appeared in 10 games while on assignment with the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.5 minutes. He spent the 2013-14 season with the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, where he saw action in 27 games and averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per contest. Originally selected in the second round (40th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Jerrett played one season at the University of Arizona after being named a 2012 McDonald’s All-American and to the Jordan Brand Classic as a senior in high school.
Pleiss (7-1, 262, Germany) was originally selected by the New Jersey Nets in the second round (31st overall pick) in the 2010 NBA Draft. His rights were then traded to the Atlanta Hawks before eventually being moved to Oklahoma City. The 25-year-old Pleiss currently plays for FC Barcelona, where he joined the club after averaging a career-high 12 points in addition to 5.4 rebounds with Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in Spain. A member of the German Men’s Senior National Team, Pleiss began his career with Brose Baskets in Germany.
Perkins (6-10, 270, Clifton J. Ozen High School (TX)) is a 12-year-veteran who holds career averages of 5.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.6 minutes in 727 games (560 starts) with the Thunder and Boston Celtics. Originally selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by Memphis, Perkins has appeared in 51 games (three starts) for the Thunder this season, averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes.
