(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
New York Knicks fans all over the world are celebrating right now.
The band is back together, and those national champions from Villanova are ready to replicate their success in the pros.
Also, the best part about the Mikal Bridges trade is that they can still afford to bring OG Anunoby back with the kind of big-money deal he’s reportedly looking for.
However, you can’t have everything in life, and the Knicks will have to choose their targets.
That’s why, according to NBA insider Ian Begley, they might not be able to retain Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency (via Evan Sidery).
The Knicks are “increasingly unlikely” to retain Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, per @IanBegley.
The Thunder and Magic are two teams who have been previously linked to potentially pursuing Hartenstein. pic.twitter.com/Oxs3xLdP2L
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 26, 2024
Begley reported that multiple teams will make Hartestein very lucrative offers, and while the Knicks could offer him $16 million per season, he might be able to fetch even more as a free agent.
Sidery adds that the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the teams to keep an eye on when it comes to his sweepstakes.
Hartenstein was a key contributor to Tom Thibodeau’s team last season, particularly late in the year when Mitchell Robinson fell with an injury.
He brought great energy on both ends of the glass and proved that he could also be trusted on the offensive end of the floor, playing his way into a big contract.
Of course, there’s always a chance the Knicks wiggle some pieces to clear some cap space or that he takes a pay cut.
But with this being potentially his first lucrative deal in the league, chances are he’s going to take his talents somewhere else.
The post Insider Says Knicks Are ‘Unlikely’ To Retain Key Free Agent After Big Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.