KNICKS MUST RE-SIGN OG ANUNOBY AND ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN
All in all, if there are any two players that the Knicks absolutely need to pass the pen to, it’s definitely OG and iHart.
Zeroing in on OG’s contract, he still has yet to give the green or red light on the $19.9 million player option that he has for the 2024-25 season by June 24th. However, he’s unlikely to do this and instead choose to become a free agent. The Knicks can sign him to a max deal for $245 million for five years. Other teams that are keeping an eye on the elite wing defender feature the Sixers and the Oklahoma City Thunder — and they’re ready to make huge offers. So, the Knicks better act fast.
When looking at iHart’s contract, New York has his Early Bird rights, which grants them to exceed the salary cap in order to re-sign him. However, this comes with a disadvantage as well. It limits their offer to a particular amount of roughly $72.5 million over four years. It is important to note, too, that other teams are also interested in picking up Hartenstein. Such teams include the Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, who were also interested in him when he was last a free agent. Thus, it’s essential that the Knicks ink Hartenstein in this summer as he enters free agency.
Do the Knicks have to make a difficult decision on the future of their three-time All-Star big man?
Do the Knicks need to trade Randle to elevate their ceiling ???
Heck No! The Knicks already have a loaded Starter lineup
(Mitch Randle OG DDV Brunson).
Plus having a high ceiling bench
(McBride Hart Hartenstein, and maybe Precious).