Knicks Impending Free Agent Open About Possibility of Re-Signing

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein is having a career year.

Posting 7.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game —averages that all match or exceed his previous career-highs —Hartenstein’s become one of the Knicks’ key cogs. Indeed, the Afro-German has even started a career-high 44 games for New York this season due to Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims’ early season injuries. In those contests, Hartenstein is averaging 8.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Isaiah Hartenstein Open About Possibility of Re-Signing with Knicks

A lanky two-way playmaker at 7-foot-0 and 250 pounds, Hartenstein’s caught a rhythm with the first unit.

As a result, he’s unlikely to give up his role to Robinson or Sims, who have since recovered. That could change in the offseason as Robinson started in all but 13 games from the 2020-21 to 2022-23 season. Statistically, Robinson is the second-best shot-blocker in Knicks history. Nonetheless, teams are often unwilling to move away from a winning formula, and Hartenstein’s an unexpected but significant variable in that equation.

With that said, the matter of Hartenstein’s impending free agent decision is of much import.

Having signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Knicks last offseason, the 25-year-old is on an expiring contract. New York will have Hartenstein’s Early Bird Rights, so they can sign him to 175 percent of his current salary regardless of their cap situation. For Hartenstein, who earns a base salary of $8.2 million this season, this could lead to a contract with an annual value of $14.4 million.

To that point, multiple NBA executives believe Hartenstein “could command around $13 million a year in free agency this summer,” HoopsHype inside Michael Scotto. Scotto adds that this number is “roughly the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.”

Might there be a bidding war for the former second-round pick?

All Else Equal

In an interview with Scotto, Hartenstein addressed his upcoming free agency, saying “I’m focused on what I’m doing right now.”

“I know I’ve put myself in a great position to get a little upgrade,” he admits.

“Right now, I’m focused on the Knicks,” Hartenstein continues. “I love it here, and hopefully, we’ll figure something out, but at the end of the day, business is business.”

Pressed by Scotto on his desire to return to the Knicks “if money is equal,” he drops the mic.

“Yeah,” Hartenstein says.

Considering that the Knicks can only play him a figure slightly above the full non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception, this bodes well for New York’s ability to retain his services.