Knicks finalize Mikal Bridges trade, create salary cap space for Isaiah Hartenstein replacement

The Knicks completed the Mikal Bridges trade on Thursday, creating enough flexibility to add a replacement for center Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency.

New York is sending Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick and a pick swap to the Nets in exchange for Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop.

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According to salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Knicks are now $16.9 million below the $188.9 million second cap with 11 players and have enough flexibility to re-sign Precious Achiuwa and use the taxpayer’s $5.2 million mid-level exception for another big man.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks are monitoring the trade market for a backup center for Mitchell Robinson, including former North Carolina and Auburn 7-footer Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.

Kessler averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds last season.

He has two years left on his rookie-level contract, which pays him $3 million in 2024-25, according to The Athletic.

Adam Zagoria is a freelance journalist covering Seton Hall and New Jersey college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You can follow him on Twitter @Adam Zagoria and check out his website at ZAGSBLOG.com.