There have been a lot of New York Knicks rumors swirling since their run in the 2024 NBA Playoffs ended. The team has several players hitting free agency, including center Isaiah Hartenstein.
Isaiah Hartenstein came up huge for the Knicks during the 2023-24 season. He started as the backup for Mitchell Robinson but was thrust into a huge role in early December. With Robinson being sidelined by ankle surgery, a starting role was open for Hartenstein.
He took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him. Not only was Hartensteain able to replicate the things Robinson was doing on the offensive glass and defensively, but he brought an added element offensively. Tom Thibodeau was able to run some actions through him offensively, taking pressure off of Jalen Brunson with Julius Randle sidelined.
His free agency this summer will be on to keep a close eye on. According to Knicks rumors shared by Ian Begley of SNY, Isaiah Hartenstein wants to return to New York. The feeling is mutual, as the team wants him back as well.
However, the Knicks are capped because of the NBA’s rules on how much they can pay Isaiah Hartenstein. Their offer can only be four years and $72 million. If the offers from other teams are similar to what New York can pay, he will stay with the team.
Alas, teams aren’t going to make it easy on the Knicks to retain such a key player. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, via The Strickland, people around the NBA believe that Isaiah Hartenstein is going to land offers upwards of $100 million.
That would certainly put his loyalty to the test. No one would blame him for taking such a significant raise, as some of those projections put his average annual salary at $25 million on a four-year deal. If they want to pry him away, it will be costly.
Expect Knicks rumors to continue in the coming weeks with the NBA Draft and free agency on the horizon. New York would love to run things back and hope for better injury luck, but other teams in the NBA will be interested in their players and could pay premiums to acquire them.
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