Because Isaiah Hartenstein signed a new contract with the New York Knicks two years ago, a quirky rule in the collective bargaining agreement caps what they can offer him this summer, when he will become a free agent again. New York cannot present him with more than $16.2 million in starting salary.
A two-year offer from the Knicks would max out at $33.7 million. A three-year one couldn’t be more than $52.4 million. And a four-year one, the longest contract the Knicks could offer Hartenstein, would be capped at $72.5 million.
Another team may hand Hartenstein more. But based on how the rest of the league feels about him, the Knicks appear to have a chance at retaining the 7-footer — and not just because he’s been willing to take less money to stay in a stable situation before.
The Athletic recently polled 16 front-office officials, asking what they would deem a “fair” contract for Hartenstein in unrestricted free agency. Answers ranged from as low as $15 million a year to as high as $22.5 million a year.
Some people proposed short-term deals; others said four-year ones.
The median and most common response, which four people proposed, was the top offer the Knicks could give him: four years, $72.5 million.
“Strictly by the numbers, his value is higher than that,” said one person who believes Hartenstein is due every cent the Knicks can give him. Advanced metrics painted Hartenstein as one of the league’s top defenders this past season.
“But this was the first year of his career that he started more than eight games, and even that was partially because Mitch (Robinson) was hurt,” the person continued. “Guys with that track record, career backup, don’t usually get paid, even if they are productive.”
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How much could Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein get in free agency?
