Isaiah Hartenstein's free agency is one of the biggest items on the New York Knicks' offseason agenda.
The 26-year-old center had a breakout season with the Knicks, averaging 8.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks after filling in as a starter for the injured Mitchell Robinson.
Now, as one of the top big men available this offseason, Hartenstein is set up for a big pay day.
His Knicks teammates know it, too.
On the "Roommates" podcast with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and host Matt Hillman, the three began talking about Knicks players with team-friendly contracts.
When Hart brought up Hartenstein's contract, Brunson responded, "Isaiah about to break the bank!"
Hart agreed, saying, "Isaiah's about to get a bag."
Hartenstein signed with the Knicks on a two-year, $18 million contract.
Now he is set to multiply that several times over.
Yahoo's Jake Fischer reported that Hartenstein could command a contract worth $80-100 million in free agency this offseason.
Because the Knicks don't own Hartenstein's full Bird rights, the most they can offer him is four years, $72.5 million.
Hartenstein has said that he'd like to remain with the Knicks, though it's worth wondering if a big pay disparity would lure him away from New York.
Hartenstein was one of several Knicks players to have a career-best season, as the team fought through injuries to key players to make the second round of the playoffs. Players like Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride, and Hart (and of course, Jalen Brunson, who had an MVP-caliber season) produced at career-best levels to help the Knicks.
On the podcast, Hart mused that he wished they were all free agents so they could get paid coming off career years.
"Obviously when guys get hurt, there's room for guys to step up and kind of really show who they are," Hart said. "So it's two-fold for me, because obviously I'm happy... we have really good pieces who are on good contracts and [we] can grow with.
"But on the friend/teammate side, you're like, 'Damn, I wish all of us were free agents because all of us could go get a bag!'"
Indeed, Hart is set to begin a four-year, $80 million extension. DiVincenzo is entering the second year of a four-year, $52 million contract. And McBride — who Hart and Brunson joked is on the best contract in the league — is starting a three-year, $13 million extension next season.
Brunson is about to reap the rewards of an All-NBA season, as he is extension-eligible. Brunson is reportedly willing to sign a four-year $156 million extension this summer, which is about $100 million less than what he could get if he hit free agency and re-signed with the Knicks.
Luckily, for Knicks fans, the bulk of the team is locked into team-friendly deals that will allow a potential contender to stick together. The challenge now will be bringing back the key players who are set to be rewarded for a great season.
