After losing Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency, the New York Knicks are scouring the trade market for a replacement. Wendell Carter Jr. could be a potential target.

But a deal for Carter Jr., who has two years left on his $50 million contract, won’t be easy. The Knicks will likely have to shop around for a third team to help them and the Orlando Magic.

Charlotte received: Mitchell Robinson, 2026 second round pick (via ORL)

New York received: Carter Jr., Nick Richards

Orlando received: Cody Martin and Miles McBride

Carter Jr. is a six-year veteran with a career three-point percentage of 33%. He averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 55 regular season appearances last year.

The Hornets are one of the few teams with cap space remaining. In exchange for helping facilitate the deal, Charlotte Robinson will receive team control through 2026 and a top second-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets.

For the Magic, adding another point guard should be a top priority if Markelle Fultz doesn’t return. He started 18 games for Orlando last season, is an unrestricted free agent and appears primed to leave.

McBride had a breakout campaign last season and is considered one of the NBA’s top signings, averaging 8.3 points, 1.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 68 regular season appearances last year.

New York needs to replace Hartenstein, has reported interest in Richards and could use a center to play in a five-man lineup.

Carter Jr.’s shooting ability will help them do just that, allowing them to keep up with the pace of rivals like the Boston Celtics.

Orlando has many centers

While the Knicks are looking to trade up to replace their center position, the Magic appear to be a viable trade partner. They re-signed Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner this summer and extended 6-foot-10 forward Jonathan Isaac.

Carter Jr. played 62, 57 and 55 games in three seasons with Orlando. He played well when he was fit, but if they want to put Bitadze, Isaac or Wagner in the starting lineup full-time, they’ll hit a roadblock.

In 2,805 possessions with the 25-year-old on the court, the Magic have outscored opponents by 1.8 points per 100 possessions. In 4,857 possessions without him, that number has jumped to 2.7 points per 100 possessions.

Team principal Paolo Banchero, a former first-round pick, is another name who could see more playing time at center next year.

He played just 7 percent of his minutes as a center last season, given his natural position as a forward. But Orlando’s defense was elite on those 428 possessions, allowing just 108.5 points per possession, which placed him in the 95th percentile league-wide.

In contrast, the frontcourt of Banchero and Carter Jr. was outscored by 0.2 points per 100 possessions, allowing 110.6 points per possession, which ranked in the 25th percentile.

That doesn’t seem to sit well with the Magic’s best player and their starting center. Maximizing the lineup around Banchero could mean parting ways with Carter Jr.

McBride’s role next season has yet to be determined.

After a successful summer, Tyler Kolek is ready to take over as the Knicks’ backup point guard, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

“The Knicks were excited to sign Payne last week,” Begley wrote on July 21. “He is now seen as the third-leading point guard behind Kolek, who had a very strong Summer League.”

Begley added that it would require unconventional flexibility from head coach Tom Thibodeau to move Kolek to the reserves and play with McBride.

“Based on current projections following the Payne signing, Miles McBride is a fixture in the Knicks’ rotation,” Begley continued. “So in order for Kolek to play, Thibodeau would have to expand his rotation to 10 players.”

McBride’s path to regular rotation minutes becomes less certain if Kolek is truly a backup point guard. He played 1,445 of his 2,405 possessions last season at point guard, or 60 percent of his minutes.

With former starter Donte DiVincenzo benched in the Mikal Bridges trade, McBride could quickly become a lost cause. Using him as a backup center shouldn’t be out of the question for New York.