I could care less what a beat writer says. Kanter started last year (all 26 games he was in OKC) and he WILL start for them THIS year!!! And that was BEFORE he signed the BIG contract!!!
What you care about is irrelevant; I value logical thought and insight from a guy who's got actual connections to the team far more than random musings about how Kanter HAS to start because some guy on the internet says so.
Kanter started all of his games last year because 1) Steven Adams was injured when Kanter was acquired and 2) Ibaka was injured four games after Kanter joined the team. Oh, and 3) the team desperately needed a guy who could score and take pressure off Westbrook since, you know, they had no Kevin Durant.
Second, apparently you didn't pay attention to what Dakiri did in the Summer League where he averaged about 8 and 9. I think they see very possible potential after this that EVEN THEY did NOT expect.
Whoopty-doo, he tore it up in summer league. So did Adam Morrison, Wes Johnson, and Josh Selby. Please.
Third, how many games have you seen Mitch play?? He is NOT fast!!! Maybe Mitch was fast before his foot problems, but he sure did NOT look fast at all this year!! Seems heavier and NOT in a good way!!
How many games have I seen him play? Uhh, all of them because I'm a Thunder fan and, unlike you, I actually watch their games and pay attention to the team. Mitch's entire game this past season was predicated on his hustle and relentless rim-running. The guy was constantly beating his defender down the court on fast breaks, so much so that it became a running joke because he expended so much energy in doing so, he was always completely spent whenever being checked out.
Don't try to rewrite history just because you watched him play three seconds early in the season when he was working his way back from injury. The guy is agile and quick. Every single assessment of him notes his uncanny speed for a big man - yes, even those that were written following his rookie season where he wasn't even in peak shape. You're wrong, point, blank, period.
As far as the weight: hmm, weren't you the same guy crowing about how I wasn't paying attention to summer league? Because I find it funny you're bringing up McGary's weight as though he didn't debut a significantly trimmer figure in summer league. He gained weight last year because he was injured and didn't get a chance to work off the pounds. He lost it now that he's healthy.