The New York Knicks’ efforts to find a replacement for Isaiah Hartenstein hit a snag when the cost of one of their trade targets, Walker Kessler, surged.
According to Buha on his podcast “Buha’s Block” on August 9, “Utah has made it clear that the price for Walker Kessler is quite steep, with a couple of first-round picks being requested.” This increase in the asking price came after SNY’s Ian Begley revealed on July 9 that the Jazz were previously seeking just one first-round pick.
Begley mentioned that teams had recently offered two first-round picks to the Jazz but were turned down. He also noted that the value of these picks can vary due to protections, indicating how highly the Jazz regard Kessler and the challenge of acquiring him.
The Knicks have been considering Kessler, 23, and Charlotte Hornets’ Nick Richards, 26, as potential replacements for Hartenstein, who joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in July, according to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto. Last season, Kessler ranked second in the league for shot-blocking with an average of 2.4 per game, behind Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
In other news, the Knicks attempted to sign Mathias Lessort, a standout from the French Olympic team. According to Begley on August 8, the Knicks explored the possibility of bringing Lessort to the NBA, but an agreement could not be reached.
This deal rounds out the Knicks’ two-way slots, which now include rookies Ariel Hukporti and Kevin McCullar Jr. Players on two-way contracts can participate in up to 50 games. Toppin played 17 games for the Westchester Knicks in the G League last season, averaging 14.9 points and 6.9 rebounds. He also took part in the NBA Slam Dunk Competition during the last All-Star Weekend but did not advance to the finals.
