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The center position has been a strength for the Knicks roster the past two seasons. With the two-headed monster of Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson, New York knows it can receive a full 48 minutes of rim protection, solid screening and offensive rebounding. It’s important that the Knicks keep the two players together, but there are some roadblocks.
Hartenstein’s unrestricted free agency is one of New York’s central offseason storylines. The team has early bird rights on Hartenstein, meaning they can bring him back at a salary that is 175 percent of his previous annual figure or 120 percent of the league average salary. The max starting salary for the first year of his contract cannot exceed the $16-$17 million range.
With his unique skill set on both ends of the floor, Hartenstein is sure to garner interest from teams with available cap space. The Oklahoma City Thunder were mauled on the glass by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round and finished 28th in the category this season. Hartenstein could make sense as a physical big to add some versatility to their portable lineup. Other teams with cap space like the Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs or Detroit Pistons could also have interest if they strike out on other free agents. Still, it’s not a guarantee Hartenstein will receive an astounding offer.
If the Knicks are able to re-sign Hartenstein, a contract in the high teens for him creates an interesting salary dynamic for New York. Robinson is set to earn $14.3 million in the third year of the four-year deal he signed in 2022. That means the Knicks would be paying upwards of $30 million for two centers. It’s a lot to commit to two players that don’t share any time on the floor together. Hartenstein and Robinson are similar in the sense that they are non-shooters who work primarily in the paint as offensive rebounders. But they both bring unique qualities to the table.
May 14, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) rebounds against Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the second half during game five of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-try-keep-isaiah-hartenstein-141144862.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-06-04 14:11:44
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