Mitchell Robinson’s latest health issues have brought Isaiah Hartenstein’s future to the forefront, both in terms of making the playoffs this season and on Jalen Brunson’s shoulders for the next few years.
Robinson was an All-Defensive candidate when he was healthy very early this season and emerged as the NBA’s top offensive rebounder. However, he has missed the majority of two of the last three playoff games with a foot injury. He sat in roughly 40 percent of the regular season games over the past four seasons.
Hartenstein, who was a revelation after taking Robinson’s starting spot this season, has proven to be more durable, even with a troublesome left Achilles tendon. And the 26-year-old is heading into free agency, hoping it pays off.
“I know I’m getting paid regardless,” he said after the Sixers series.
I’m sure how much interest there is for the Knicks.
Unlike the other pending free agent OG Anunoby, the Knicks do not hold Hartenstein’s full Bird Rights. They have early bird rights and are capped on the offer amount while over the cap (the Knicks would be over the cap).
In Hartenstein’s case, the maximum offer would start at about $16.1 million. There will be teams with enough cap space to move Hartenstein away from New York over that offer, including the Pistons, Sixers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder and Magic.
But will Hartenstein command that much on the open market?
In March, ESPN front office insider and longtime former NBA executive Bobby Marks pegged Hartenstein’s free agent value at $13 million to $14 million per season, or what Robinson will earn next season. I estimated it to be about the same amount. Marks said centers are no longer making big money, but Hartenstein will benefit from a weak free agent pool in 2024, led by Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and New Orleans’ Jonas Valanciunas. He added that there is a possibility.
Of course, a strong playoff run could make Hartenstein even more valuable.
Heading into Wednesday’s Game 2 against the Pacers, he was averaging 10.7 points in 27.7 minutes, showing off push shots/floaters in the paint and being New York’s most consistent outside of Brunson’s isolation wonders. It became one of the offensive weapons.
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“It’s always been a part of my game, but maybe not as much as it is now. I didn’t use it as much as I did when I went to the Clippers (in 2021-22) because I was getting a lot of pockets.” I put it out there and that was the easiest shot to hit,” Hartenstein told the Post. “I don’t know how that ended up being my shot, but I feel really comfortable. It’s like a layup at this point. I feel like it’s one of my most comfortable shots. He’s hard to block and easy to get into a rhythm with, so I feel like he’s giving players space even if he’s not on the 3-point line.”
Like other big decisions for the Knicks, Hartenstein’s free agency isn’t up in the air. Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa are expected to enter the market as well. Anunoby will have to decline his $20 million player option, but is a top priority and is in line for a big payday. Achiuwa is a restricted free agent. That means the Knicks can accept any offer, but they won’t get paid as much as Hartenstein.
Marks also told the Post in March that he estimated Achiuwa’s value at $8 million to $10 million per season. That was after Anunoby and Robinson returned from injury and before Achiuwa was sent to the bench.
Re-signing all three would put the Knicks under the luxury tax, but it’s not a comfortable situation under the new CBA, which limits roster construction.
They have an inexpensive option as a backup center in Jericho Sims, who will make just $2 million next season, with the athleticism and defensive ability to blossom into a strong backup option.
However, given his health history, it’s difficult to rely on Robinson as a natural starting pitcher.
That makes the future free agent importance of Hartenstein, the Knicks’ most reliable center, growing.
