As we explained on June 1, the Knicks will have a hard time keeping Isaiah Hartenstein. While he was supposed to be Mitchell Robinson's understudy, the former Clippers interior took advantage of his teammate's misfortunes to establish himself in the starting five. With 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on average, at 64% success, the 5th best offensive rebounder in the NBA is one of the great satisfactions of the New York season, but management is limited in its financial possibilities.
At best, New York can offer him around $72 million over four years, or a salary of around $18 million per season. It's more than double his current salary (eight million dollars), but it's also little for a pivot who has proven that he can be a starter. According to New York Postthe Thunder would be the Knicks' number 1 opponent to enlist Hartenstein.
Chet Holmgren shifted to position 4?
OKC has everything to attract him: the sports project, money and playing time. With a budget of 35 million dollars, the Thunder can offer more than the Knicks without putting themselves in the red. The Post mentions a big two-year contract, as we see more and more during free agency. This limits the risks for the team, and generates big benefits for the player.
At 26 years old, and after having experienced five teams, Hartenstein has the possibility of landing his biggest salary of his career, and as an additional argument, the Thunder could offer him a starting place alongside Chet Holmgren. The idea would be to shift the young interior to the strong winger position, where his technique and his ability to spread the play will be valuable.
On the New York side, management has a priority before looking into the Hartenstein case: extending OG Anunoby, who, too, will not lack outside offers after his superb second half of the season.
| Isaiah Hartenstein | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | HOU | 28 | 8 | 48.8 | 33.3 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
| 2019-20 | HOU | 23 | 12 | 65.7 | 0.0 | 67.9 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 46 | 12 | 55.0 | 33.3 | 64.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 5.1 |
| 2020-21 * | DEN | 30 | 9 | 51.3 | 0.0 | 61.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 3.5 |
| 2020-21 * | KEY | 16 | 18 | 58.2 | 33.3 | 68.6 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 8.3 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 68 | 18 | 62.6 | 46.7 | 68.9 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 82 | 20 | 53.5 | 21.6 | 67.6 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
| 2023-24 | NYK | 75 | 25 | 64.4 | 33.3 | 70.7 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 8.4 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 7.8 |
| Total | 322 | 18 | 59.6 | 31.0 | 68.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 6.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
