The Knicks completed the Mikal Bridges deal on Thursday, creating enough contractual space to find a replacement for center Isaiah Hartenstein, who joined with the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency.
In return for Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop, New York will send the Nets Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton, Mamadi Diakite, four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick, and a pick swap.
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.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are keeping an eye on the trade market for a backup center to Mitchell Robinson, including Utah Jazz 7-footer Walker Kessler, who formerly played for North Carolina and Auburn.
Last season, Kessler averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds.
He has two years remaining on his rookie-scale contract, which will pay him $3 million in 2024-25, according to The Athletic.
