A Hartenstein Dilemma

Oddly enough, the Knicks struggled with second chance points and rebounding in Games 3 and 4. Thankfully for the Knicks, Hartenstein made sure that wasn’t an issue in Game 5. 

Surprisingly, not only did he have more offensive rebounds than the entire Pacers team but Hartenstein also tied Charles Oakley’s record for the most offensive rebounds in a Knicks playoff game (12). Hartenstein’s energy on both ends was a huge factor in this win, which has put the Knicks in a great position to close out this series. Ultimately, it’s one thing to make this contribution in the regular season but when you perform as well as Hartenstein has in the playoffs, it shows how important and impactful he is to this Knicks team. 

During this postseason, Hartenstein has averaged 9.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1 BPG while shooting 62 % from the field. Although he’s had issues with getting into foul trouble, Hartenstein has found a way to be a big contributor on this team and is a big reason for the Knicks success this season. 

Now, unfortunately, Hartenstein is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He will be one of the top centers in this year’s free agent class and will likely receive big offers from other teams. How should the Knicks handle this situation?

Decisions, Decisions 

According to sources, Isaiah Hartenstein could ask for $13 million annually once contract negotiations begin. Now, Although the Knicks will love to bring Hartenstein back, they also have to figure out the contract extensions for Jalen Brunson and O.G Anunoby. Furthermore, the Knicks need to add some depth to the bench as well. The good news for the Knicks is that he wants to resign with the team and continue building upon winning a championship.

If I’m the Knicks, once the extensions are figured out, I would offer Hartenstein a four year contract worth $40 million ($10 million per year). This might be a little bit less than what he’s reportedly looking for but maybe the Knicks can try to convince him to stay with this special group and pitch the probability of winning a title. If this doesn’t work, I would wait to see what other offers teams give to him and make my decision from there. 

Due to the extensions the Knicks are preparing to give alongside the long term contracts they already have signed, trying to save money should be a priority for this team. There will be teams that offer Hartenstein much more just because they have the cap room. If that’s the case and a team offers Hartenstein a contract much more than 13 million a year, I would probably let him walk in free agency. However, if the Knicks can maybe sign him with an offer between 10-12 million, I would bring him back. 

One of the main reasons why the Knicks will likely be a good team for years to come is because of the smart contracts that they have signed their players too. Jalen Brunson, Donte Divencenzo, and Josh Hart have performed well beyond what they are getting paid. Their contracts are very team friendly and long term. This situation with Hartenstein’s contract should be approached with the same mindset. Offer a reasonable contract that protects the team’s future and refrain from overpaying. Hopefully, this approach will continue to work in our favor once the negotiations start to take place. 

Isaiah Hartenstein has played a huge role in bringing this franchise back to relevancy. I would hate to see him go but the Knicks need to offer him a deal that makes sense for the organization going forward. We’ll see how this situation gets handled during the offseason. As for now, let’s see what Hartenstein has in store for Game 6 this Friday.

Upcoming Schedule

Game 6: Knicks @ Pacers Friday 8:30PM ET on ESPN

Game 7 ( if necessary): Knicks vs Pacers Sunday 3:30PM  ET on ABC