Knicks Media Roundup: Orlando & OKC want Hartenstein, draft targets, New York Heatles!?
Knicks Media Roundup: Orlando & OKC want Hartenstein, draft targets, New York Heatles!?
Another week, another update on the Knicks' pending free agents, possible draft targets, and... the NYC Big 3 that could have been.
Orlando & Oklahoma City still in the run to sign Isaiah Hartenstein
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype penned one of his humongous “intel” columns on Saturday, June 15, and reported many little nuggets about all NBA franchises while mocking the upcoming 2024 NBA draft—the two full rounds, no less.
Scotto’s latest information points toward the worst-kept-secrets in league circles: Isaiah Hartenstein will fill his bag, and that bag might not be coated in Knicks’ colors.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked to several centers heading into free agency, including Hartenstein, as previously reported by HoopsHype.
The Orlando Magic is another team to monitor for Hartenstein, according to rival NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype.
The Knicks have only Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson as their natural, five-hole big men, so it wouldn’t be great to lose I-Hart to free agency as that’d mean the franchise will be forced to find and pay for a (probably subpar) solution in the free-agent market or via trade.
On top of all that, New York also has another mid-to-big man entering July as a free agent in Precious Achiuwa.
No bueno!
All of that, by extension, could lead the Knicks to draft a big with one of their back-to-back first-round picks (assuming they kept both) slotted in the No. 24 and No. 25 spots.
Knicks projected to draft C Yves Meisse & G Ryan Dunn
In the same column, which is basically an “aggregated” mock draft with a few external notes baked into it, the Knicks are projected to draft Baylor freshman center Yves Missi with the No. 24 pick and Virginia sophomore guard Ryan Dunn with the No. 25 selection.
We’re so plugged we already covered everything you need to know about Missi here at P&T more than a week ago. Talk about foresight.
Yves Missi could be a needed frontcourt addition with Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa eligible for restricted free agency.
“I think I’ll bring energy and do whatever it takes to win, in general,” Missi told HoopsHype at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “I’ll run the floor, set screens, block shots, and get rebounds.”
The second pick of the two first-round choices the Knicks are scheduled to make in late June would bring a man who has already worked out for the Knickerbockers to New York City.
Some around the league believe the floor for Dunn, the top perimeter defender in the draft class, is No. 25 overall to the Knicks.
When asked about what of his skills would translate immediately to the NBA, Dunn told HoopsHype, “You’re bringing in a defensive monster who can guard right away, learn your schemes, and be able to hold my own.”
Gilbert Arenas’ Big (3) Revelation
Brothers and sisters, when you thought we were way past the Summer of 2010 talk, Agent Zero brought it all the way back sharing some information unknown to date.
According to Gilbert Arenas, the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh were planning on joining forces in New York City—not South Beach—but they screwed it all by going radio silent.
“When Dwyane Wade, Bosh and LeBron decided to team up, they was not playing in someone city so they can all be fresh,” Arenas said. “So they were planning on going to New York together. And what happened is because they didn’t tell anyone, Dolan made a mistake by paying Amar’e Stoudemire.”
Arenas thinks New York was the side “making the mistake,” but the situation can also be looked at from an alternative angle and blame the trio’s silence as the main reason for Dolan to sign Stoudamire in the first place.
“They didn’t want to play with Amar’e Stoudemire because they had they own goddamn Big 3. So, because New York [expletive] it up, they called Micky [Arison] and say, ‘Hey, Micky. This is what we wanna do. Can you make it happen?’ And then made it work.”
Miami didn’t enjoy the first season of the partnership with the Heat that much, with the flashy trio dropping the ball in the 2011 Finals against the Mavs. After that, however, the trifecta won not seven, not six, not five, not four, not three,... but two Larry O’Bs before breaking the band.
Arenas posted a solid 2-2 record in matchups against the Big 3 in his final two seasons in the league splitting time between Washington, Orlando, and Memphis before packing his bags and flying to China to play for the Shanghai Sharks in the 2012-13 season before becoming a full-time podcaster.
#Re-Sign-I-Hart