The New York Knicks lost Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency on Monday.
The move was a blow to the Knicks, as Hartenstein had evolved into a fierce rim protector and a valuable offensive role player thanks to his touch in the paint and passing.
Now, the Knicks are on the hunt for another center to replenish their depth. Though they do still have Mitchell Robinson, free agency options are dwindling, and the team might have to explore the trade market.
According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Knicks have "shown interest" in trading for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
Kessler is entering his third year in the NBA. He made All-Rookie First Team in 2022-23 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting while averaging 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. However, Kessler's numbers declined slightly last season as he vacillated in and out of the starting lineup.
According to Scotto, NBA executives believe the Jazz would now listen to trade offers for Kessler after previously making him unavailable.
It would be an intriguing option for the Knicks, as Kessler is only turning 23 years old this month. Kessler is only one year removed from finishing 20th in the NBA in defensive BPM. And Kessler allowed opponents to shoot just 46%, 12th among big men who appeared in over 50 games last season.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau prioritizes rim protection, and Kessler could be a huge lift for a Knicks team that suddenly needs more of it.
On offense, Kessler basically doesn't venture outside of the paint, but he shot 75.2% at the rim last year, a solid number.
The question, of course, would be whether the Knicks have enough assets to trade for Kessler. The Knicks can't trade any more of their own first-round picks after dealing four of them to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges. The Knicks do have two protected first-round picks in 2025 from the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards (though both seem unlikely to convey), and they can offer to swap picks with Utah. Would that be enough to land a talented, young center?
There is another factor to consider: the Knicks would be negotiating with Danny Ainge, who has a long history of extracting lots of value back in trades from other teams.
