Report: Knicks Feel They’re In ‘Good Place’ To Keep OG Anunoby And Isaiah Hartenstein

According to NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY, the New York Knicks feel like they are in a “good place” to keep OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Anunoby is expected to decline his 2024-25 player option with the Knicks to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Hartenstein is already set for unrestricted free agency since he just finished the final year of his contract. 

“One thing worth noting on both Anunoby and Hartenstein: The Knicks obviously know that both players will garner strong interest from opposing teams,” Begley wrote. “But even factoring that in, members of the organization felt earlier in the offseason that they were in a good place on both Anunoby and Hartenstein as both players approach their free agencies. That’s according to people in touch with the team after their season ended in a second-round loss to Indiana.”

The Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games. New York beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round in six games. 

Anunoby played 23 games for the Knicks after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors. The NBA champion averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks with New York while shooting 48.8% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 79.1% from the free-throw line. 

Hartenstein averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks for the Knicks this season while shooting 64.4% from the floor, 33.3% from 3 and 70.7% from the free-throw line. 

The Sixers are interested in Anunoby, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are the “top threat” to sign Hartenstein away from the Knicks, per NBA reporter Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. 

Anunoby and Hartenstein have repeatedly said they want to remain with the Knicks. However, money talks in the NBA.