NBA Trades: The Knicks upgrade frontcourt in potential deal with the Hawks

The New York Knicks have been at the center of the NBA offseason. They arguably pulled off the biggest trade of the summer when they traded Bojan Bogdanovic and five first round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges, reuniting him with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVencenzo. 

However, despite this big addition, New York also suffered a huge loss in their frontcourt when center Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Mitchell Robinson being in and out of the lineup, Hartenstein was the Knicks’ most reliable interior force. Amongst qualified players, he was fifth in offensive rebounds per game during the regular season (3.3) and he upped it to almost four per game in the postseason, which led all players.

Hartenstein has also been an iron man of sorts during the last three seasons, only missing 21 games total and playing all 82 games in 2023. Losing him is a huge loss for the Knicks and given Robinson’s extensive injury history, they suddenly have a need in the frontcourt. 

New York has been poking around the center market this offseason, with no serious traction being gained. It would be surprising to see them go into training camp in September with no reinforcements at the center spot. That leads us to an interesting trade proposal with the Atlanta Hawks, who have a big man that the Knicks have reported interest in.