Just like your teammates, Isaiah Hartenstein apparently found a long-term home in the NBA in his brief stint with New York Knicks. Originally signed to a two-year, $16 million contract following the 2021-22 season, Hartenstein emerged as one of the league’s best backup centers before successfully taking over as the starter last year.
After playing for five teams in six NBA seasons, Hartenstein could be thinking about settling in with a Knicks franchise that is ready to compete, has great locker room chemistry and is willing to commit long-term. The only thing potentially stopping them from doing so is another team swaying Hartenstein with a much higher offer.
New York has no reason not to return Hartenstein. After playing all 82 games as a reliable backup in 2022-23, Hartenstein became a full-time starter at the start of this season afterby Mitchell Robinson fell with an ankle injury.
He has stepped up enormously in Robinson’s absence, protecting the rim to a similar level and becoming a greater threat on the other end. He developed a strong on-court relationship with Jalen Brunson, began to trust his floater, and became an offensive center from the top spot.
He averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 64.4% shooting from the field during the regular season. His strong performance resisted pain in his Achilles tendon that bothered him throughout the year and in the Playoffs, where he faced Joel Embiid It is Pascal Siakam one by one.
Hartenstein’s exceptional two-way game will make him a top target in unrestricted free agency, and as much as the Knicks want to keep him, they are limited in matching the open market. They have his early bird rights, which means they can re-sign him at 175% of his previous salary or 120% of the league average, putting their max offer around $16-17 million per year.
There are a number of teams with cap space this offseason that could exceed $20 million in pursuit of Hartenstein’s services. If there is a large enough difference in wages, would Hartenstein seriously look elsewhere?
One alternative New York could employ is to offer him a one-year contract, with the promise that they would offer a larger, long-term extension once they obtain all of their rights to the birds the following summer. The goodwill they have built with several players over the past few seasons could help facilitate such a deal.
There is little reason for them to look beyond Hartenstein.
Robinson is arguably better when he’s healthy, but he’s played in 70 games just once in his career. Precious Achiuwa It’s a good backup five, and Jericho Sims does well in an emergency, but neither can replicate what Hartenstein brings to the table.
New York would be losing a valuable piece for nothing, without any advantage, unless they desperately wanted to stay under the luxury tax. If for some reason they see a reason to move on, they would be better off waiting for him to re-sign and trade him.
It will likely end up back in blue and orange. He has spoken openly about his happiness playing for this team, and the Knicks have every reason to give him what they can with few attractive alternatives available.
New York has found a special connection with this group of players, they will want to preserve that, from top to bottom. Unless Hartenstein is absolutely impressed, he’ll be happy to stay.
