The Knicks finalized the Mikal Bridges trade on Thursday, and created enough cap 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, one protected first-round pick and a pick swap to the Nets in exchange for Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop.
According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Knicks are now $16.9 million below the $188.9 million second apron with 11 players and have enough flexibility to re-sign Precious Achiuwa and use the $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception toward another big man.
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According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks are monitoring the trade market for a backup center to 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 remaining on his rookie-scale contract, which pays him $3 million in 2024-25, per The Athletic.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.