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NBA Executive Reportedly Floats Two-Time NBA All-Star to New York Knicks Trade

This Chicago Bulls star could be a potential fit for the New York Knicks

Joey Linn

Dec 14, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) scores against New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second half at United Center.
Dec 14, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) scores against New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second half at United Center. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Knicks lost center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, leaving them thinner in their front court.

Hartenstein was critical to New York's success in his two seasons there, appearing in 157 games (57 starts) and averaging 7.4 rebounds in just 22.4 minutes per game. This production earned him a three-year, $87M contract with the Thunder.

Looking to remain a contender in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks need to replace Hartenstein's production from the center spot. This will not be easy to do, especially when considering what the 26-year-old center brought on both ends of the court.

In an article from Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, it was reported that one NBA executive floated a trade between the Knicks and Chicago Bulls that would land two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic in New York.

“The Knicks, that is not really Tom’s kind of big man, but when you look at Boston, they can play five-out," one Western Conference executive reportedly told Heavy Sports. "They can put five shooters on the floor. That is going to be key for any team that wants to keep up with them. The Knicks can’t do that, but you add a guy like (Vucevic) and that’s a game-changer.”

While the executive acknowledged that Vucevic is not the typical Tom Thibodeau player, presumably because of his subpar defense, the two-time NBA All-Star could help them offensively if the price made sense.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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