The arrival of Lauri Markkanen in Cleveland could have waves reaching as far as Brooklyn. The Nets have had an interest in Isaiah Hartenstein and Kevin Love, and both end up being even more surplus for the Cavaliers than they already were.
The Nets are currently watching Hartenstein, sources told The Post.
Friday’s Cavaliers acquisition of restricted free agent forward Markkanen on a contract with the Bulls means he, No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley and starting center Jarrett Allen (who was sent to Cleveland by the Nets) at James Harden) will get most of Cleveland’s big minutes. It also means Hartenstein and Love have taken a giant leap closer to being available as role-playing pills for the Nets.
The Nets have had a long flirtation with Hartenstein. He liked the 7-footer in the 2017 draft and dominated against his subsidiary, Long Island, in the 2019 G-League finals, when he was named MVP while playing for Rio Grande. A source told The Post that the Nets were even interested in signing Hartenstein before the 2020 NBA bubble, but he was not eligible for the playoffs due to the date he was resigned.
Hartenstein averaged 8.3 points, 6.0 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 17.9 minutes per game for the Cavaliers last season, the best stretch of his young career. After rejecting his $ 1.9 million player option, the 23-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and The Post has confirmed that there is new mutual interest with the Nets. They attended his recent training in Las Vegas.
On the other hand, Love is still hired in Cleveland, for two years and $ 60 million. The Nets would have an interest in Love if bought, and the Cleveland Plain dealer reported that he and the Cavaliers were “advancing” in the purchase.
Love, who was limited to just 25 games last season due to injury and will turn 33 next month, could be attractive to any number of contenders, including the Lakers. But he owns a beachfront apartment in Tribeca, won a title in Cleveland as part of a Big 3 with Kyrie Irving and is believed to be kind to Kevin Durant.
Another shoe would have to fall for the Nets to sign Hartenstein or Love, as right now they only have one two-way spot to offer. They should open a full place and make any signing a minimum veteran.
DeAndre Jordan has a two-year, $ 20 million contract, but he didn’t play the Nets ’16 straight games and doesn’t seem to be part of his long-term plans. The feeling among league executives is that the aging center could be bought, given up directly, or possibly exchanged if the Nets are willing to part with an asset.
Going from Alize Johnson would be less complex. The contract of the strong rebound is not guaranteed and the date of the guarantee has been moved again from September 4 until the opening of the regular season, on October 19. Even then, it would only guarantee $ 200,000, a commitment to get away from it if necessary.
Under general manager Sean Marks, the Nets usually do late pickups. They signed Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot hours before the 2019 opening and picked up Tyler Zeller in mid-September two years earlier.