Getty Isaiah Hartenstein reacts during Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 22.
The New York Knicks entered free agency with a ceiling on what they could offer starting center Isaiah Hartenstein. It proved too little, as he’s leaving for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams Charania of The Athletic was first with reports of Hartenstein’s departure.
BREAKING: Free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein plans to sign a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Hartenstein departs the Knicks for an enormous contract and gives OKC a new anchor inside.
“BREAKING: Free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein plans to sign a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium,” Charania tweeted on July 1. “Hartenstein departs the Knicks for an enormous contract and gives OKC a new anchor inside.”
The largest deal New York could offer Hartenstein was a four-year contract worth up to $72.5 million. And they did, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.
For those in doubt, the Knicks offered Hartenstein the full four-year, $72.5 million deal they could, according to a league source. He elected to test out free agency. The Knicks never pulled the offer. They wanted him back. They just weren’t allowed to pay him enough.
“For those in doubt, the Knicks offered Hartenstein the full four-year, $72.5 million deal they could, according to a league source,” Katz tweeted on July 1. “He elected to test out free agency. The Knicks never pulled the offer. They wanted him back. They just weren’t allowed to pay him enough.”
Hartenstein began last season as backup to Mitchell Robinson before injuries thrust him into the starting lineup where he thrived.
He emerged as a top two-way center, averaging 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals in the regular season.
This story will be updated.
Knicks’ Center Options are Limited
As the Knicks look to pivot to other options, they’ll face a limited marketplace on replacements for Hartenstein.
One name to watch for is Goga Bitadze.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported ahead of free agency that the Orlando Magic center was “on New York’s radar.”
“Magic big man Goga Bitadze is among the centers that’s been on New York’s radar if it needs to pivot,” Begley wrote on June 23. “There are probably many other centers under consideration for this scenario.”
Bitadze is coming off of his fifth season, and his second with the Magic. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game as backup to Wendell Carter Jr.
The 24-year-old is an unrestricted free agent.
Other free agent options include former second overall pick James Wiseman, or veterans Daniel Theis and Mortiz Wagner.
None would be considered legitimate replacements for Hartenstein or starting caliber bigs for a team that won 50 games last season.
Mitchell Robinson Back to the Starting Lineup?
There may be few victors in Hartenstein’s departure, but Robinson is largest among them. His 50-game absence with a left ankle injury pushed him out of the starting lineup this season.
Now, barring an unexpected trade, he’ll return to the starting lineup next season. Robinson averaged 5.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Fred Katz of The Athletic previously reported that New York was shopping Robinson in trade talks ahead of free agency. But that was to help complete the Mikal Bridges blockbuster.
“The Knicks have gauged the market for Mitchell Robinson, according to league sources,” Katz wrote on June 27. “If they were to include Robinson in the trade, sending him to a third team, they could take back another player. Robinson makes $14.3 million next season, meaning they could flip him for someone who makes as much as $10 million, tie it into the Bridges deal and still send out more money than they’re acquiring.”
Unless they find a trade partner willing to swap Robinson for a different starting center, his time with the Knicks will go on.
Robinson is the longest tenured player on New York’s roster, and has started 196 of 320 regular-season appearances.