Losing Isaiah Hartenstein was a significant blow for the New York Knicks this summer.
The veteran big man had established himself as one of the best backup centers in the NBA, stepping into a pivotal role for the Knicks following Mitchell Robinson's injury issues last season. However, he will be suiting up for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season, while New York has been unable to replace him within its rotation.
During a recent interview with NBA.com's Steve Aschburner, Thibodeau revealed his plan to replace Hartenstein's production off the bench. He noted how the Knicks must accept a committee approach to plugging the gap his departure has left, with Jericho Sims likely to see an uptick in playing time.
"When he [Mitchell] went out, Jericho Sims started initially, then he got hurt," Thibodeau said. "Then Isaiah came in and did what he did. But when he got hurt, Precious [Achiuwa] came in along with Taj Gibson. So we rotated guys at that position the entire year. We’ll probably have to do it by committee. We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the 5. I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well."
Last season, Hartenstein averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 64.4% from the field. He was a starter in 49 of the 75 games he played in for Thibodeau's team. Assuming Robinson's injury issues are behind him, New York won't need a starting-caliber big man on their bench. As such, Sims and Precious Achiuwa should both find opportunities to plug the backup center role.
It will also be interesting to see how much time Randle is given at the center position. His scoring and rebounding ability will give Thibodeau plenty of opportunities to explore small-ball lineups, so long as the veteran forward can sustain the physical toll of lining up against opposing bigs.
Regardless of how the Knicks look to bridge the gap left behind by Hartenstein, it's clear they have enough depth and talent to overcome his absence. Whether they go looking for a genuine replacement closer to the Feb. 6 trade deadline remains to be seen, but they're still one of the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference.
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The Boston Celtics added another floor spacer when they acquired forward Georges Niang in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. But as Niang tells it, the reception in Boston hasn’t exactly been warm. “I then get traded for Kristaps Porzingis — which, you know how tough Boston fans are,” Niang said during an appearance on The OGs podcast, via HoopsRumors. “They don’t give a (expletive) if I’m from Boston or not. ‘You just took our Unicorn and replaced it with a Minivan. Get the (expletive) outta here.’ I’m like public enemy No. 1. They’re like, ‘What is this? This ain’t shiny. It’s got scratches on it, man.’” Some of the resentment may stem from a 2023 playoff incident in which Niang, then with the Cavaliers, grabbed Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s knee from the bench. That clip resurfaced after the trade. Others have speculated it’s about Niang’s $8.2 million expiring contract and whether Boston plans to keep him around. “You don’t want to be in Boston losing, that’s for sure,” Niang added. “What can I do this summer? Can I come in in the best shape, mentor, learn, and figure out how to win the day — and then win games.” Celtics Urged to Pass on Simmons Boston has been linked to free agent Ben Simmons, but not everyone thinks it’s a good idea. Matt Vautour of MassLive wrote that the Celtics would be better off exploring other options. Vautour noted that Simmons still brings some upside, but warned that the team can’t count on him to stay healthy. Along with that, things didn’t exactly work out for Simmons in Philadelphia or Brooklyn, either, Vautour opined. Bassey Drawing Interest From Overseas Big man Charles Bassey, who made a solid impression during three Summer League games with Boston, is on the radar of Italian club Virtus Bologna, per HoopsRumors. Bassey could still be in the mix for a training camp invite, but no decision has been made as the Celtics continue to evaluate their frontcourt depth. More NBA News Rumors
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Not only do they have a great front five, but there goes, potentially, eight pitchers deep with MLB talent. Unsurprisingly, with such a surplus of talent, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in their starters. Ranger Suarez, whose contract expires at the end of the year, would be a typical trade deadline candidate. But he's going nowhere. Instead, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are drawing trade interest in Phillies right-handed prospect Mick Abel. The 23-year-old starter could be a trade chip if the Phillies find a suitable trade target. "... Same goes for Mick Abel," Gelb writes, "who is drawing trade interest." The Phillies right-hander has impressed in his brief Major League stint, even if he now sits at a 5.04 ERA in six starts. His ceiling, which he displayed in his MLB debut, is enough to captivate teams around baseball. In the minors, Abel has been dominant this season. He has a 1.83 ERA in 12 starts in Triple-A, a significant improvement over his 6.46 ERA in 2024. Abel's progress this season has been incredible, and has teams interested in trading for him. If the Phillies find a trade partner for an outfielder or a dominant reliever, Abel could be a centerpiece of a deal to land such a player at the deadline. With the crowded rotation, Abel might not have a starting role on the roster for the rest of the season. He could go to the bullpen for the postseason run or be dealt to land a high-profile reliever or outfielder. But, regardless of what the Phillies do with Abel, this report from Gelb is a good sign. If teams around baseball are interested in Abel, then his progress isn't just a facade; it's something teams are willing to buy in on.
It’s been a busy summer for New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, having watched several pitchers and the team’s primary third baseman fall victim to lengthy IL stints. Cashman has at least three holes to repair, but who can the Yankees deal to land some worthwhile replacements? Among New York's trade chips that have been frequently mentioned as of recent is outfielder Spencer Jones. Whether for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez or Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, several rumors have suggested a package involving Jones, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect and purported “left-handed Aaron Judge.” Up until this season, Jones had struggled to live up to his monstrous expectations, which made him rather undesirable in prior trade discussions. But whereas many teams and writers saw him as a hard pass in trade talks over the offseason, Jones has now become a hot commodity. Off to a scorching start in Triple-A (.408/.470/.901 with 10 home runs in just 17 games entering Wednesday), Jones has compiled a head-turning .313/.412/.683 stat line with a career-high 26 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 246 at-bats across Double and Triple-A this season. With his awe-striking power finally producing some results, Jones has become a top-of-the-line trade chip. However, this doesn’t mean the Yankees should consider trading him. Why not? Center field-related uncertainty Yankees’ center fielder, Cody Bellinger, has played well in pinstripes this year which raises the topic of his player option for next season. In addition, since he is getting paid more than his option is worth next year, chances are he decides to try the free-agent market. If Bellinger does leave, center field will be wide open as Trent Grisham will also likely test free agency after this season. Unlike Jones, neither Judge nor Jasson Dominguez have displayed the aptitude necessary to capably play the position. The Yankees’ shallow depth will also prove to be a challenge for finding a replacement. If Bellinger does stay, he can slide into first base while Jones takes over at center. But whether he decides to stay or go, Bellinger will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Trade value Jones’ numbers are on fire, but his trade value has yet to catch up, due to his unstable track record. Nonetheless, using a prospect of Jones’ caliber (along with others) to land someone like Keller (career 4.43 ERA), for example, or any similar player would equate to mismanagement. Given his torrid stretch this year, there is a good chance Jones lives up to his stunning potential. Selling him for a fraction of his future worth would be regrettable. Yankees’ current situation The Yankees are without Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt for the year and many others sit on the IL alongside them. This deficiency could be offset by acquiring some rentals, namely Suarez. However, as the risk with all rentals, Suárez will likely test free agency at the end of the season. Unless the Yankees extend or sign him, he won’t share the same side of the field with Cole or Schmidt (while active). If they can land Suarez without trading Jones, all would be well for the Yankees. If not, this could be a case of mortgaging the future to improve a very gloomy present. In the end, it may be better to have Jones’ bat backing Cole over the next three years rather than Suárez’s bat backing Will Warren this year. If the Yankees are dealing for rentals at the deadline, it’s best to leave Jones out of it.
The New York Giants officially opened training camp on Wednesday, and the good news for Jaxson Dart was that the rookie had nowhere to go but up after his first play of practice. Dart’s very first pass of 11-on-11 drills was intercepted by third-year cornerback Nic Jones. Dart stared his receiver down the entire way, and Jones showed the former Ole Miss star why doing so in the NFL is never a good idea. The whistle blew after the interception, but Jones would have taken it the other way for a touchdown had the play been live. Like any rookie quarterback, Dart is going to make plenty more mistakes in training camp. Brian Daboll and the Giants’ coaching staff will be more interested in how Dart bounces back from them. The Giants traded up to select Dart in the first round and are very high on his ability. They plan to bring him along slowly, which Daboll seemed to reiterate again on Wednesday. Dart led the SEC with 4,279 passing yards last season. He threw 29 touchdown passes and is known for having a strong arm, but throwing windows get significantly tighter in the NFL. Dart will learn that as he gains more experience.
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