SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz held their first practice since the All-Star Break, and Enes Kanter was present with the team; Kanter said last week he hoped to be traded before the trade deadline, which is Thursday at 1 p.m. MST.
It was business as usual for the Jazz and Kanter, and though Kanter was not made available to the media, head coach Quin Snyder and Forward Gordon Hayward spoke about the situation.
"We all want everything to be perfect, " Snyder said. "And that's not the case with me, with Enes, Derrick, Gordon, so, like I said, I like where we are and I like Enes. I think Enes is one of the guys that, over the course of the first half of the year has really improved. I would like to see that continue. We're never going to be satisfied with where any of our guys are, but I think he understands even more now what he needs to do to be better and help us."
Hayward also shared his thoughts about Kanter.
"He's my teammate and I've enjoyed the time I've had with him as far as being with the Jazz, and if he continues to be with the Jazz I'll love it, too," he said. "So, whatever happens, happens. It's a business, and I learned in my rookie year that things aren't going to stay the same most of the time."
The trade deadline is Thursday at 1p.m. The Boston Celtics are among the teams who have reportedly expressed interest in Kanter. The Jazz play next on Friday at 7 p.m., when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Energey Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
