Still Waiting...

Several big dominoes fall, but Isaiah Hartenstein remains unsigned.

Good evening! Yes, the Monday morning edition of the KFS Newsletter is coming your way a bit early. Why? Because at some point I need to sleep, and I’d rather get this out while everything below is still relevant.

This edition of the newsletter will also be a bit shorter than usual, simply because we’re still waiting to find out what Isaiah Hartenstein decides to do. Once he makes his choice, one way or another, full subscribers should expect an emergency newsletter in their inboxes in short order. As for what we do know…

News & Notes

🏀 Here’s what we know on the Isaiah Hartenstein front…

• Shortly after free agency began, Oklahoma City Thunder brass met with Hartenstein in Eugene, Oregon. Their return trip to OKC reportedly departed at 8:10 EST, so the two sides did not meet deep into the wee hours of the night.

• Before free agency began, multiple reports linked Hartenstein to the Thunder, with the Pistons and Magic also being mentioned. As of now, all three teams have the available cap space to make him a significant offer that the Knicks would be unable to approach regardless of their first apron hard cap concerns. Andrew Schlect, who covers the Thunder for the Athletic, floated the possibility of a three-year deal with a third year team option where the average annual value is north of $20 million.

• From Ian Begley before free agency began: “Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to receive multiple significant offers in free agency. Those offers make it highly unlikely that the Knicks can retain him.” He added that I-Hart would need to accept “significantly” less money to remain a Knick.

While no contract has been signed as of yet (that we know of), the writing seems to be on the wall, meaning the Knicks will need to either sign a lower tier center in free agency using no more than the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception or trade for a replacement, although the latter option could amount to spinning their wheels as Mitchell Robinson would easily be the most likely salary to go out in any deal.

Much more on this if and when it becomes official.

🏀 Paul George appears all but certain to be heading to one of New York’s biggest rivals.

Following a truly unprecedented statement from the Clippers in which they blame the Collective Bargaining Agreement for their reluctance to offer George the years and dollars he is seeking, the Sixers are now viewed as locks to sign PG13 into their cap space (or, perhaps, agree to a sign and trade with LA).

With George in house, Philadelphia would immediately establish themselves alongside the Knicks as one of a handful of team that can challenge Boston for the 2025 NBA title. Health will remain their most significant question, but their top three now tops that of any team in the league. They are as serious a threat to come out of the East as anyone.

More thoughts on a New York vs Philly tale of the tape once PG13 becomes official.

🏀 Possible I-Hart replacement options that have gone off the board…

Andre Drummond is signing a two-year, $10-plus million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, presumably using their room exception. He had an excellent season (for a backup center) in Chicago last year, and should help a bit with the always troubling non-Embiid minutes in Philly.

Mason Plumlee agreed on a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. Plumlee wasn’t on the top of anyone’s I-Hart replacement list, but he’s a solid backup big who should contribute in Phoenix.

Finally, Jonas Valanciunas agreed on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards. Val doesn’t fit the Knicks’ archetype for big men, but at this point, every option that goes off the board is one less potential replacement they have to pick from.

In his pre-free agency piece, Ian Begley mentioned both Valanciunas and Drummond as potential I-Hart backup plans, along with Goga Bitadze, who is an unrestricted free agent, and Nick Richards, who has two years and $10 million remaining on his contract with Charlotte.

🏀 Also from that Begley article: The Knicks reportedly have “virtually no interest” in including Deuce McBride in the Mikal Bridges trade package in order to avoid being hard capped at the first apron. Logic would dictate that they have other, more preferable paths to achieving that financial goal.

🏀 Former Knick news: Obi Toppin will sign a four-year, $60 million contract to stay with the Pacers. The hand-in-glove fit with Indy certainly paid dividends for the first draft pick of the Leon Rose era.

🏀 Other moves of notes….

• James Harden is back with the Clippers, inking a two-year, $70 million pact that has a player option on the second season. Harden didn’t seem to have much of a market, but this was still a nice bit of work to get him at two and not three seasons.

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is leaving the Nuggets to sign a three-year, $66 million deal with Orlando. The move gives the Magic the shooting they so desperately needed while not compromising their defensive ethos, although the absence of a true lead guard remains an issue. For Denver, their dreams of a second title in the Jokic era take a significant hit.

• After being waived by the Warriors, Chris Paul went to one of the few places where he can still be a starting point guard, inking a one-year, $11 million deal to help get Wemby the ball in San Antonio.

• Naji Marshall left the Pelicans (which was expected) and agreed on a three-year, $27 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks. The move signals the end of Derrick Jones Jr’s time in Dallas, although the Mavs are still reportedly in the lead for Klay Thompson, assuming they can work out details of a sign and trade with the Warriors and inherit Thompson into the recently created $16 million trade exception from the Tim Hardaway Jr-to-Detroit deal. Thompson also reportedly met with or plans to meet with the Lakers, Clippers and 76ers. LeBron called Klay shortly after 6pm EST to sell him on the idea of coming to LA, which presumably confirms that LeBron is not going anywhere.

• Eric Gordon is heading to Philly. Nice rotation piece for them who will surely see time in big spots.

• The Clippers are reportedly trying to trade Russell Westbrook after he opted into his $4 million player option. Denver is noted to be an interested party.

• There is reportedly no market whatsoever for Zach LaVine, even with Chicago rumored to be willing to attach a draft asset to unload the remainder of his contract.

• Nicolas Batum will not re-sign with the Sixers.

• The Heat re-signed Kevin Love to a two-year, $8 million deal

• OAKAAK Luke Kornet is heading back to Boston on a one-year deal

Let’s end with the top remaining available free agents (not including players who are sure bets to sign somewhere as noted above), using Keith Smith’s Spotrac rankings, with their overall FA rank in parentheses:

1. DeMar DeRozan (5)

2. Miles Bridges (10)

3. Isaiah Hartenstein (11)

4. Kelly Oubre Jr (15)

5. Klay Thompson (16)

6. Tobias Harris (17)

7. Tyus Jones (18)

8. Buddy Hield (22)

9. Gary Trent Jr (23)

10. Nic Batum (24)

More dominoes left to fall, for sure.

🏀

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”