The New York Knicks signed Isaiah Hartenstein. He gives the Knicks a new dimension on offense while providing solid defense.
After securing Jalen Brunson hours before the start of free agency, the New York Knicks made another splash at 6:00 pm. The team signed former Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein to a two-year contract worth $16 million, fully guaranteed (per Shams Charania).
Selected 43rd overall in the 2017 draft by the Houston Rockets, Hartenstein began his career bouncing back between the G League and the NBA. While in the G League, he took advantage of the opportunity to develop his game – in 2019, he won G League Finals MVP with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and was named to the All G League First Team. But after two seasons in Houston, the organization waived Hartenstein in 2020.
Later that year, the Denver Nuggets would take a flyer on Hartenstein. However, through 30 games, he averaged just nine minutes per game before Denver traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for JaVale McGee. But, in 16 games with Cleveland, he showed flashes of good touch inside and outside the paint, tenacious rebounding, and solid rim protection, which was enough to earn him a contract with the Clippers.
The Clippers gave Hartenstein his first opportunity to be part of a rotation, and he was impressive in his minutes. The German-American big averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on .626/.467/.689 shooting splits in 17.9 minutes per game.
Per 100 possessions, Hartenstein was one of six players to average over 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists this past season. The others are Embiid, Giannis, Jokic, Sabonis, and Randle(!). Of those players, Hartenstein averaged the most blocks at 3.1 per 100 possessions. Of course, per 100 possessions is a hypothetical stat, but it does show that Hartenstein is statistically productive in his playing time.
Standing at 7’0’’ tall, Hartenstein provides the Knicks with a unique skill set at the five position, specifically on-ball playmaking and good touch outside the paint. Yet, like Randle, Hartenstein can pass out of the high post and run dribble hand-offs. So with Hartenstein’s ability to make those passes, he makes the Knicks’ bench unit even more dynamic on offense with players curling and cutting off-ball (i.e., Derrick Rose, Quentin Grimes, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley curling).
No offense to Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel, and Jericho Sims, but the Knicks haven’t had a center who could score outside the paint in a while (besides Taj Gibson, I suppose). Hartenstein has a great floater, and his smooth jumper suggests that the 14-for-30 mark from three last season wasn’t an anomaly. The Knicks coaching staff should encourage him to shoot more, which will open the floor up for all players who thrive at going to the rim.
Another big aspect of his game is his floater. He has awesome touch in that short mid-range area (52% from there) and he looks for it often. It’s a useful shot to have in a big’s arsenal pic.twitter.com/ZP49Nv4eyL
— Ariel (@APachecoNBA) July 2, 2022
Forgot to include this earlier but there are signs of him possibly stretching the floor. Only 30 3PA last season but he made 14 of them. His touch is also another reason to be optimistic about his jumper pic.twitter.com/2E2tB7j7Cj
— Ariel (@APachecoNBA) July 2, 2022
On defense, Tom Thibodeau will love Hartenstein’s ability to protect the basket and clean up plays when the defense collapses.
The Clippers sometimes had Hart defend wings in the corner and have him rotate to the paint instead of starting him on the big. My theory is that he’s great as a weak side help guy and the Clippers wanted to use that. He prevents an easy layup with a fantastically timed rotation pic.twitter.com/lqlkgo7p1d
— Ariel (@APachecoNBA) July 2, 2022
(Shout out to Ariel Pacheco of The Strickland for the highlight clips. Be sure to check out the entire thread and give him a follow.)
In summary, Hartenstein can continue a lot of what Robinson does well (rebounding, screen setting, rim running, shot-blocking) off the bench, and his comfort with the ball will allow the coaching staff to be more creative on offense. Granted, Hartenstein does foul a bit too much – 2.5 fouls per game in 17.9 minutes last season – and his assist/turnover ratio (1.9) suggests some sloppiness with the ball. But at just 24 years old, he still has time to grow as a player along with the rest of the Knicks’ young core.
The Hartenstein signing gives the Knicks a lot of depth at the center position with re-signee Robinson and Sims (and Gibson if the Knicks bring him back). Also, with Robinson’s injury history, the others will likely see spurts of playing time throughout the season.
Questions arise, however, about what this means for Obi Toppin’s playing time on a nightly basis. The third year forward has been parked behind Julius Randle since the start of his career. Thibs was already hesitant to play the two together in his “48 minutes of rim protection.” Now, Toppin can only hope to soak up all of Randle’s bench minutes again this upcoming season, which isn’t a guarantee either, as Reddish’s defensive potential as a forward could pose a threat as well.
Regardless, having too many solid rotational players is a good problem, and it doesn’t seem like Leon & Co. is done making deals this off-season, either…
Welcome to New York, Isaiah Hartenstein!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP, JD, & Alex discuss Isaiah Hartenstein on Knicks Weekly!
