Isaiah Backup Plans

With another report that New York's center could get a significant raise elsewhere, today we wade through the full allotment of possible alternatives.

Good morning! Today’s newsletter is not one I was ever planning on writing, but there’s a little too much smoke out there for me to ignore it any longer.

News & Notes

🏀 Another day, another report suggesting the Knicks might be out a center come June 30.

Kurt Helin of NBA Sports aggregated Stefan Bondy’s report from Monday, but added some new reporting of his own:

“The expectation around the league is that some team with cap space and in need of a more traditional center will come in over the top and offer more — north of $80 million and closer to $90 million for four years — and Hartenstein will take it.”

He added that there exists “an expectation in league circles that the bidding will start at $20 million a season.”

“Bidding” implies that there is more than one interested suitor besides the Knicks, which could absolutely be the case even if the Thunder are the only team that has been explicitly reported as such.

Might the Knicks be starting to get a little worried? I have no idea, but I’m definitely concerned. As such…

Isaiah Backup Plans

…let’s just have the full conversation, shall we?

Here’s the good (ish) news: if Isaiah leaves, there will be no shortage of options to replace him, even if none of those options will leave anyone feeling particularly satisfied. Even though he’s about to get paid serious dough from New York or someone else, there are so many solid centers scattered throughout the league (including another one on the Knicks!) that finding another good one shouldn’t set them back too much.

That said, you never want a player to walk in free agency, because it’s the one instance where you’re losing something for nothing.

So we will hope for the best. And if the best doesn’t end up happening? That’s what today’s newsletter is for.

Before we get to the eight players I think the front office would wind up looking at, here are a half dozen options that would either represent a big swing or are simply unlikely: