Mitchell Robinson injury underscores Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein dilemma

NBA

By Stefan Bondy

Mitchell Robinson’s newest well being factor brings Isaiah Hartenstein’s long run to the leading edge, each for this season’s playoff run and the years forward on Jalen Brunson’s shoulders.

Robinson, when wholesome very early this season, emerged as an All-Defense candidate and the NBA’s most sensible offensive rebounder. But he’s now ignored the vast majority of two of the final 3 playoff runs with foot-area accidents. He’s sat kind of 40 p.c of the regular-season video games within the final 4 seasons.

Hartenstein, a revelation after taking Robinson’s beginning spot this season, has confirmed tougher, even with that tough left Achilles. And the 26-year-old is heading right into a unfastened company that he’s anticipating will endure fruit.

“I know I’m getting paid regardless,” he mentioned after the Sixers sequence.

How a lot is indubitably of shock to the Knicks.

Unlike with different pending unfastened agent OG Anunoby, the Knicks don’t dangle Hartenstein’s complete Bird Rights. They have his Early Bird Rights, which units a restriction on how prime their be offering can cross whilst nonetheless being over the cap (the Knicks might be over the cap).

In Hartenstein’s case, the max be offering begins at kind of $16.1 million. There might be groups with sufficient cap area — the Pistons, Sixers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder and Magic, as an example — to exceed that provide and probably pry Hartenstein out of New York

But would Hartenstein command that a lot within the open marketplace?

In March, ESPN entrance place of work insider and previous longtime NBA government Bobby Marks estimated Hartenstein’s unfastened company worth at $13 million-$14 million according to season — or kind of what Robinson will earn subsequent season. Marks added that facilities don’t get giant cash anymore however Hartenstein may just have the benefit of a susceptible 2024 unfastened company elegance, with Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and New Orleans’ Jonas Valanciunas on the most sensible.

Of path, a robust playoffs — accompanied through a deep run — may just spice up Hartenstein’s worth.

Heading into Wednesday’s Game 2 towards the Pacers, he’s averaging 10.7 issues in 27.7 mins whilst flaunting a push shot/floater within the paint that evolved into one in every of New York’s maximum constant offensive guns outdoor of Brunson’s isolation wonders.

Follow The Post’s protection of the Knicks within the NBA playoffs

“It’s always something that’s part of my game, but maybe not as — I didn’t use it as much as I started using it when I went to the Clippers (for the 2021-22 season) because I was getting a lot of pocket passes and that was the easiest shot to take,” Hartenstein advised The Post. “I don’t know how it became my shot but … I feel real comfortable with it. It’s like a layup at this point. I feel like it’s one of my most comfortable shots. It’s hard to block and easy to get in rhythm so it feels like it’s still giving guys spacing even if it’s not on the 3-point line.”

As with each different giant resolution for the Knicks, Hartenstein’s unfastened company isn’t in a vacuum. Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa are each headed into the marketplace as neatly. Anunoby, who should decline a $20 million participant choice, is a concern and set for an enormous payday. Achiuwa is particular unfastened agent — that means the Knicks can fit any be offering — however received’t get up to Hartenstein.

Marks additionally estimated to The Post in March that Achiuwa’s worth is $8 million-$10 million according to season. That was once additionally ahead of Achiuwa was once despatched to the bench following the returns of Anunoby and Robinson from accidents.

Re-signing all 3 would ship the Knicks into the posh tax, and that’s now not a relaxed position underneath the brand new CBA with the roster-building restrictions.

They do have an affordable choice as a backup heart in Jericho Sims, who’s incomes simply $2 million subsequent season with the athleticism and protection that might blossom into a robust backup choice.

But depending at the authentic starter, Robinson, is a difficult promote taking into account the well being historical past.

And that’s making the impending unfastened company of Hartenstein, essentially the most dependable of the Knicks facilities, extra necessary.