Mikal Bridges trade may cost Knicks Isaiah Hartenstein in NBA free agency

To further build the Villanova Knicks, it may cost them an integral part of their 2023-24 success.

After adding Mikal Bridges in a stunning trade with the Nets on Tuesday night, the Knicks’ path to retaining pending free-agent center Isaiah Hartenstein is “more difficult now,” per ESPN.

“The Knicks are still determined to keep OG Anunoby in free agency, sources tell ESPN, but the ability to [re-sign] center Isaiah Hartenstein becomes more difficult now,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted Tuesday. “The Knicks are loading up on wings to match up with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.”

The Knicks always faced challenges to retain Hartenstein since they are capped at what they can offer him, with their best potential offer being a four-year, $72.5 million deal via their Early Bird Rights.

Other teams, including the Thunder, Pistons and Spurs, are in better position to offer him more money.

The Knicks are already battling luxury tax issues while trying to retain their core, and fitting in Hartenstein when fellow center Mitchell Robinson is already on the books for the next two years for roughly $13.6 million per season could be challenging.

Robinson has been floated in trade talks, indicating the Knicks could move him and retain Hartenstein, but this report made it seem like Mitchell is more likely to stay.

Hartenstein, 26, emerged as a reliable player for the Knicks the past two years, especially with on-court availability, compared to the often-injured Robinson.

The center appeared in all but eight regular-season games during his two seasons with the Knicks, while averaging 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, though he did battle Achilles issues.

The ESPN report seemed to indicate that the Knicks view strength on the wings as more pressing than having size, which is why re-signing Anunoby is a higher priority after he opted out of his contract.

Unlike with Hartenstein, the Knicks have the ability to offer more than other teams since they have Anunoby’s Bird Rights and can exceed the salary cap in doing so.

Teams can begin negotiating with free agents Sunday.

Other top free-agent centers include the Nets’ Nic Claxton and the Pelicans’ Jonas Valancinuas.