The New York Knicks are exploring options to fill a void at the center position after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, according to a report by SNY’s Ian Begley.
In his latest update, Begley highlighted two experienced big men that the Knicks may be considering: JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo.
“You have to think the Knicks are at least considering veteran bigs like JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo,” Begley shared in his SNY mailbag on September 13. “They might even sign a veteran before the start of training camp.”
With Hartenstein’s departure, the Knicks are left with the injury-prone Mitchell Robinson as their starting center, and a backup rotation that includes undersized Precious Achiuwa and the relatively inexperienced Jericho Sims.
Achiuwa, standing at 6-foot-8, rejoined the Knicks on a one-year contract after the team’s unsuccessful attempts to sign Bruno Fernando, Omer Yurtseven, and French Olympic standout Mathias Lessort. Fernando chose to sign with the Raptors, Yurtseven opted for a more lucrative deal in the Euroleague, and talks with Lessort fell through, per Begley.
McGee, a 36-year-old, 7-foot veteran, brings a wealth of championship experience, having won three NBA titles — two with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season, he averaged 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 46 games for the Sacramento Kings. Biyombo, a 6-foot-8 center, is known for his rebounding ability, averaging 5.9 boards in just 19.5 minutes per game in his NBA career.
Hartenstein’s Departure Leaves a Gap
The Knicks attempted to keep Hartenstein but were limited in what they could offer due to his early Bird rights. Hartenstein ultimately signed a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency, leaving a significant hole in the Knicks’ center rotation.
NBA analyst John Hollinger of The Athletic believes Hartenstein’s exit could hinder the Knicks’ competitiveness, especially on the defensive end. “I can’t rate them the best defensive team in the NBA without Isaiah Hartenstein, and with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history, they lack another rotation-caliber big man,” Hollinger stated during a conversation with Knicks reporter Fred Katz in August.
Hartenstein’s two-man game with Jalen Brunson was a key factor in the Knicks’ success last season, helping them secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after Julius Randle’s shoulder injury. The Knicks hope that a healthy Randle will form an even stronger pick-and-roll partnership with Brunson moving forward.
Defensively, the team is banking on the return of OG Anunoby and the addition of Mikal Bridges to reduce opponents’ scoring in the paint, easing the loss of Hartenstein’s rim protection.
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