Free Agent Isaiah Hartenstein was expected to depart New York this offseason, given that another team’s offer could be far beyond the Knicks’ matching capacity. Indeed, Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the Thunder, while New York could only offer the big man a maximum of four years, $72 million.
Thus, Mitchell Robinson remains the club’s starting center, having been in that role before Hartenstein’s emergence due to injuries. The 26-year-old Robinson will be crucial for the Knicks’ success this season, particularly in offensive rebounding. Currently, he is rehabbing from another ankle surgery.