Knicks president: Enes Kanter wants to remain in New York

New York Knicks president Steve Mills says that Enes Kanter wants to remain in New York.

Kanter has a player option for $18.6 million next season and is weighing whether he will pick it up and stay with New York or decline it and become a free agent.

Mills said that Kanter wants to be in New York and that it’s on him to opt in.

“Enes wants to be here in New York,” Mills said on MSG, via Ian Begley. “He has to choose to opt in.”

Steve Mills on Enes Kanter: “Enes wants to be here in New York,” Mills said on MSG Network. Mills was then asked if the next move is the Knicks’ or Kanter’s. “Really, it’s his,” Mills said. “He has to choose to opt in.” Kanter has a $18.6 million player option for next season.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 10, 2018

There was talk after the regular season ended that Kanter would opt out of his contract, but his agent dismissed that notion last month and said nothing had been decided. If Kanter weren’t considering opting in, he probably wouldn’t be trying to recruit a superstar to New York like he did a few days ago.

The 25-year-old center averaged 14.1 points and 11 rebounds per game during the regular season.