Atlantic Notes: Kanter, Rozier, Lin, LeVert

Two months into the Carmelo Anthony trade, Enes Kanter has shown himself to be a positive influence on a Knicks team that has overachieved early in the season, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. In 18 games this season, the 25-year-old is averaging a double-double with 14.1 PPG and 10.4 RPG while using his positive mentality to the team’s advantage.

Kanter spent the entire offseason cutting weight and increasing his mobility. Before the Turkish big man even knew he was destined for New York City, he spent most of the offseason working out with one of Anthony’s trainers, and former Knicks assistant trainer, Chris Brickley.

“Mentally [Enes] is on another level,’’ Brickley said to The Post. “He pushed himself to the limit daily. As the summer progressed, I would have to sit down on my couch prior to the workout and think of different ways to get him tired because he would never get tired. It was actually kind of funny. He really has a special work ethic and nothing he has done this year has surprised me.’’

Not only has Kanter been impactful on the court, he has been vocal in his support of his new teammates. Kanter even got into a war of words with LeBron James after the Cavaliers superstar said the Knicks missed out by not drafting Dennis Smith Jr. — which some perceived as a slight against Frank Ntilikina.

Check out other news from the Atlantic Division below:

• Celtics point guard Terry Rozier joined NBC Sports Boston to discuss his career. The third-year guard promised he would eventually be a starter in the NBA but that will be complicated in Boston with Kyrie Irving occupying that slot.
• Nets point guard Jeremy Lin is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a ruptured patella tendon — which he suffered on opening night. As Net Income of NetsDaily writes, Lin will rehab his injury in Canada at Fortius Sport and Health.
• Despite his early-season shooting woes, Nets’ second-year forward Caris LeVert is finally taking strides and building off a solid rookie campaign, Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily writes.