Report: Isaiah Hartenstein Could Command $13 Million A Year In Free Agency This Summer

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein could command around $13 million a year in free agency this summer, roughly the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

Hartenstein becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Knicks in July 2022. 

“I’m focused on what I’m doing right now,” Hartenstein told Scotto. “I know I’ve put myself in a great position to get a little upgrade. Right now, I’m focused on the Knicks. I love it here, and hopefully, we’ll figure something out, but at the end of the day, business is business.”

Hartenstein is averaging 7.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks for the Knicks this season while shooting 63.7% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 72.7% from the free-throw line. 

“I think I’m gaining more trust from my teammates,” Hartenstein said. “I feel like now it’s kind of going back to how I was playing with the Clippers. We have a lot of unselfish guys. Jalen Brunson‘s playmaking this year has not been talked about enough. How he’s been playmaking this year has made my life easier. I think that’s been big for us, especially with how much they trap him and how well he’s been making reads.”

Hartenstein has career NBA averages of 6.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Knicks. 

“It’s been great,” Hartenstein said about playing for the Knicks. “I feel like the first period was an adjusting period. If you’re not one of the top two guys on a team, you’ll always have to adjust on a team unless you’re in a perfect situation. I think coming here, I adjusted. Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) helped me a lot, especially on the defensive end. I was good with the Clippers defensively, but Thibs really helped me with that, and it probably took me to another step.

“He’d show me film and talk me through practice on how to prepare. I think that’s what he does well, how he prepares for games. I think a lot of people don’t see that he’s probably in his office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and probably earlier than that with how he prepares. He also gives little details with any questions I have, especially defensively, to help me out.”