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The New York Knicks have questions to answer this offseason with their center position with Isaiah Hartenstein approaching unrestricted free agency, but there is a report regarding the Knicks talking with the Washington Wizards regarding a potential trade involving Mitchell Robinson, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
“So the fact that Mitchell Robinson's name has come up in some of the Knicks' trade conversations with opposing teams isn't all that surprising (The Wizards are among the teams whose talks with the Knicks have included dialogue on Robinson. I'm sure several other teams have talked to New York about Robinson, their 26-year-old starting center),” Begley reports.
Begley does say that it would be a surprise if the Knicks moved Robinson before or during the NBA Draft, because they would likely want to know what Isaiah Hartenstein's decision is, whether that be to stay or to go. The Oklahoma City Thunder are often listed as a team that could make a run at Hartenstein in free agency. It remains to be seen whether or not the Thunder beat the Knicks' offer financially, or if Hartenstein would accept that offer to leave. Oklahoma City has the financial flexibility to offer more than New York.
A deterrent could be that signing Hartenstein would likely mean Chet Holmgren has a bit of a position change. Hartenstein would surely start if he stays in New York. Hartenstein also has that he would have taken a discount to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers before coming to the Knicks, because he liked the situation there, but they never offered him a contract. So it could be possible that Hartenstein leaves some money on the table to stay in a situation he likes with the Knicks. Begley believes Hartenstein will return.
“One note on Hartenstein: I would still guess that Hartenstein returns to New York if he's deciding between a Knicks offer and an offer that's a bit higher,” Begley says. “The Knicks have Hartenstein's Early Bird Rights, so they can only offer him roughly $16 million in the first year of his new contract. It can be as long as four years and for as much as $72 million dollars.”
The Knicks do have a backup plan if Hartenstein does decide to leave in free agency, however.
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Knicks eyeing Goga Bitadze as pivot option if Isaiah Hartenstein leaves
The Knicks are considering Orlando Magic big man Goga Bitadze, according to Begley. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent as well. This would be a scenario that is in play if Hartenstein leaves in free agency. It will be interesting to see if the Knicks are able to land Bitadze if Hartenstein leaves.
It will also be interesting to see what that would mean for Robinson's trade possibilities. Regardless, the next few weeks will be telling for the Knicks. They would like to run things back next season.
