Isaiah Hartenstein grew to become a New York Knick partially as a consequence of a quirk within the collective bargaining settlement. Let’s wind the clock again three years. Hartenstein, then a journeyman having spent stints with the Rockets, Nuggets and Cavaliers, could not discover a contract with one other NBA workforce till weeks earlier than 2021 coaching camp started. Ultimately, he finally signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
His lone season in Hollywood was a breakout success. Although his particular person numbers did not soar off of the web page, Hartenstein developed into one of many NBA’s handiest low-minutes rim-protectors backing up Ivica Zubac. In an ideal world, the Clippers would have re-signed him and saved him in that position indefinitely.
The issue was that he had so little worth across the league earlier than he signed in Los Angeles that he may solely get a one-year deal from the Clippers when he joined them. That meant that, as a 2022 free agent, his authentic workforce solely had Non-Fowl Rights on him, permitting solely a 20% increase on his minimal wage. He clearly wasn’t going to take that. Their solely different technique of paying him one thing resembling honest worth would have been their taxpayer mid-level exception. They as an alternative spent it on John Wall, opening the door for the Knicks to offer him their very own mid-level exception.
Now, historical past is repeating itself. Hartenstein has been a revelation for the Knicks. That unimaginable rim-protection has carried over to New York however has sustained in a bigger position. His rebounding, particularly on offense, has turn into a necessary a part of the Knicks’ id. Throw in his floaters, screening and passing and he is turn into a big offensive optimistic along with that nice protection. The Knicks, just like the Clippers earlier than them, snagged a significant free-agent cut price in Hartenstein.
And the Knicks, just like the Clippers earlier than them, are dealing with a significant uphill battle in really protecting him. The rationale for that once more traces again to his worth across the league on the time of his final foray into free company. If Hartenstein had the leverage to command a three-year deal in 2022, the Knicks would have been capable of re-sign him in 2025 for any worth as much as the max. Three years after signing a contract with a brand new workforce, that workforce positive factors full Fowl Rights on that participant, which removes any restriction in what that workforce will pay that participant aside from his max wage even when they’re over the cap.
However the Knicks solely signed Hartenstein for 2 years. That implies that as an alternative of full Fowl Rights, the Knicks solely have Early Fowl Rights, and with these rights, the Knicks can solely supply Hartenstein a deal that begins at 175% of his earlier wage or much less. Basically, that implies that the Knicks cannot pay Hartenstein greater than roughly $16.2 million subsequent season.
Is that going to be sufficient to maintain him? It is exhausting to say. At 26, Hartenstein continues to be younger and ascending. He is additionally by no means been a wire-to-wire NBA starter, and non-shooting facilities typically battle to earn honest contracts on the open market. There are solely 15 facilities within the NBA making extra this season than that most determine the Knicks can provide Hartenstein. The dangerous information, frankly, is that Hartenstein is best than a number of of them. Zach Collins, Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Vucevic had been all overpaid this season, however they’re a barometer Hartenstein will little doubt use in negotiating his subsequent contract. In the event that they’re value that a lot, why is not he?
After all, market situations matter as a lot as participant high quality in free-agent negotiations. Collins, Nurkic and Vucevic all acquired paid with full Fowl Rights, however for Hartenstein to match their wage, he’d have to receives a commission by a cap-space workforce. Is there such a workforce on the market? Doubtlessly, but it surely’s no certainty. Eight groups are positioned to create vital cap house this summer season in the event that they wish to: the Pistons, 76ers, Jazz, Thunder, Magic, Spurs, Hornets and Raptors. Let’s instantly cross off the 76ers. They’ve Joel Embiid, they don’t seem to be going to pay a middle. The Pistons (Jalen Duren), Jazz (Walker Kessler), Hornets (Mark Williams) and Magic (Wendell Carter Jr.) all have viable younger facilities already, so whereas they may need depth, they will seemingly use their assets elsewhere. The Raptors are already paying Jakob Poeltl, so they seem to be a affordable cross-off as effectively.
That leaves two groups. New York’s Fowl Rights dilemma traces up completely for the Thunder to attempt to swipe Hartenstein. Oklahoma Metropolis can create roughly $35 million in cap house, however due to their impending extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the Thunder in all probability do not wish to hand out a long-term deal. That creates a logical deal construction right here: The Thunder may supply Hartenstein a two-year cope with an inflated short-term wage that the Knicks could not match, however would permit Hartenstein to reenter free company in 2026, when he’s nonetheless solely 28. Even when the Knicks give Hartenstein the most important four-year deal they’ll, the hole in assured cash would not essentially be monumental, and it might drive Hartenstein to attend till he was 29 or 30 to reenter free company.
The query right here is curiosity. Hartenstein is theoretically an ideal match for the Thunder. He is snug being a backup, however he can play main minutes when wanted. His physicality pairs completely with all of their capturing and ball-handling. He may play alongside Holmgren or with out him. The difficulty right here is that the Thunder, so far, have proven little inclination to spend money on a non-shooting middle. They even helped the Mavericks get one in Daniel Gafford on the deadline. The Thunder wish to play five-out offense as a lot as attainable. Hartenstein cannot try this. If that is a deal-breaker, the Thunder are out.
The Spurs are much less dogmatic about capturing, and in contrast to the Thunder, they’ve proven extra of a willingness to play their rookie star large man at energy ahead. Victor Wembanyama’s finest basketball got here at middle down the stretch, however he opened the season as an influence ahead and has up to now expressed his choice for the place. The Spurs are already paying Collins, however Hartenstein is each an improve and a stylistic divergence. The Spurs may probably signal him, strive each him and Collins subsequent to Wembanyama and see which ones is a greater match.
However the Spurs have greater wants right here. In the event that they’re investing cap house in fast assist, level guard is the apparent goal, however wing capturing can be welcome as effectively. Wembanyama was top-of-the-line facilities within the NBA after the All-Star break. Gregg Popovich has usually most popular to play large over time, however paying two facilities eight-figure salaries on high of Wembanyama can be a bit a lot even for him.
For example there is not a big-money deal on the market for Hartenstein. The Knicks will nearly actually supply him no matter deal he needs that’s legally allowable. The subsequent query then turns into what kind of construction he needs. The Knicks may pay Hartenstein as much as round $72.5 million over 4 years, but when he is ready to gamble a bit, he may additionally take a shorter-term cope with an eye fixed on re-signing for honest worth quickly. The trail to doing so can be a two-year deal value a bit lower than $34 million that incorporates a player-option on the second yr. That may permit Hartenstein to opt-out and re-sign with full Fowl Rights subsequent summer season or, if his worth dips for any purpose, at the very least take dwelling an affordable quantity of assured cash.
Which possibility would he choose? It is exhausting to say. Hartenstein is barely now ending his first non-minimum NBA contract. He hasn’t earned generational wealth but, and gamers below these circumstances are inclined to go for safety. However the Knicks noticed firsthand this postseason simply how important Hartenstein is to who they’re on each ends of the ground. They cannot belief Mitchell Robinson to remain wholesome and Tom Thibodeau groups depend on facilities greater than most. Hartenstein deserves greater than $72 million. He certainly sees that. The Knicks do, too. However giving it to him goes to be an uphill battle.
