The NBA offseason is heating up, and one of the most intriguing free agent centers on the market is Isaiah Hartenstein. With his impressive performance during the playoffs for the New York Knicks, Hartenstein has caught the attention of many teams looking to bolster their rosters.
According to reports from various sources, including Yahoo Sports and Hoops Rumors, Hartenstein is expected to receive offers worth at least $80 million in NBA free agency. This comes after a successful season with the Knicks where he started a career-high 49 games and averaged a career-high 25.3 minutes per game.
Hartenstein's impact on the Knicks was significant, especially during their run to the second round of the playoffs. He set or matched other career highs with 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per contest, and averaged 7.8 points per game on a high shooting percentage.
Despite his impressive stats, Hartenstein's future with the Knicks is uncertain due to their salary cap situation. The best they can offer him is a four-year, $72.5 million contract using his Early Bird rights.
The Thunder are one of the teams reportedly interested in signing Hartenstein, despite his playing style not fitting theirs perfectly. His rebounding abilities could address their rebounding issues from the previous playoffs.
Other teams that have been mentioned as potential suitors for Hartenstein include the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons. However, it's unclear whether these teams will still be in the market for a center after making other roster moves.
Hartenstein's free agency comes at a time when there is a lack of strong starting center options on the market. Jarrett Allen is expected to receive offers similar to Hartenstein, but his salary range may not be as high due to his contract situation with the Cavaliers.
Nic Claxton and Jonas Valanciunas are other established starting centers who will be unrestricted free agents, but their salary ranges are projected lower than Hartenstein's.
Maxi Kleiber could also be a trade target for teams looking to add Hartenstein, as the Mavericks face cap chicanery to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. However, this is just speculation at this point.
As we wait for the NBA Finals to conclude and free agency to begin, one thing is clear: Isaiah Hartenstein will have a lot of suitors vying for his services.