Oklahoma City and Orlando, two teams with more cap space than the Knicks, are potential landing spots for Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein as he hits the open market. Sources close to the situation have informed SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley that it is becoming less likely for New York to retain Hartenstein due to lucrative offers he is expected to receive this offseason.
Losing the 26-year-old big man would be a significant blow for head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks, especially after his impressive performance this past season filling in for the injured Mitchell Robinson. In his role as a starter, Hartenstein put up strong numbers with averages of 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 64 percent from the field across 75 games.
Despite reports of Robinson being discussed in potential trades, if Hartenstein departs in free agency, those talks may cease. The Knicks are expected to target a backup center in free agency, with Magic center Goga Bitadze being one player they have expressed interest in as they look to address their frontcourt depth.
