The loss of starting center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency was a major blow to the Knicks this summer. In response, management hasn’t done much to fill the void he left.
Hartenstein’s ability to facilitate the offense and break the offensive glass was a big part of New York’s success last season. He ran the pick-and-roll with Jalen Brunson extremely well, which helped in part lead to him ranking 11th in the league among centers with 188 assists.
Hartenstein has been a particularly good rebounder, ranking fifth in the league in offensive rebounds in 2023-24 with 244. He’s also averaged 7.8 points, showing that he can shoot the ball as well.
As he has in the past for the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson will take over the center role this season, but his game has glaring weaknesses. Robinson played in just 31 games last season because of a foot injury and 59 games the season before that.
Robinson is a solid rebounder, averaging 3.7 offensive rebounds for his career, and an elite rim protector (1.9 career blocks per game). However, he has never averaged more than one assist per game in a season and doesn’t have the extra threat in the half-court offense that Hartenstein provided last season.
Although Robinson has struggled with injuries, the Knicks haven’t added any other options at center. Forward Precious Achiuwa played minutes at center last season, but he’s a natural forward and lacks size (6-foot-8 and 243 pounds). Center Jericho Sims also lacks size (6-foot-10 and 250 pounds) and is a burden on the ball.
There could be more moves at the position.