Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Brunson finding how they fit with Knicks

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — While the money was good, there was more to consider when Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein opted to sign with the Knicks this summer as free agents. Brunson left the Mavericks, who were Western Conference finalists. Hartenstein was just blossoming with the Clippers, a team that made the play-in tournament last season and is expected to be a championship contender this season.

And in New York, they were heading to a team that struggled to a 37-45 record last season, a place in the lottery, and under the spotlight of a passionate fan base at Madison Square Garden with the pressure squarely on them as the new additions.

But as the team departed for its first road trip, heading to Indiana to face the Pacers, both said that they came here with expectations that with coach Tom Thibodeau guiding the team things would change for the Knicks.

“My main thing why I came here was because I thought I can bring something to help them win,” Hartenstein said. “That was my situation. I could have gone to a team that was rebuilding or something like that and maybe have a bigger role. To me, it was more about finding somewhere I could help win. Anytime you have Thibs as a coach it’s no rebuilding phase. That was one thing I knew for sure. So I just thought that I could help the team win.

“You see him on the sidelines, that’s not a rebuild. That’s what I was excited about, just having someone [that] I knew for a fact, even if the front office told him, yeah, we want to lose, he can’t. It’s not in Thibs’ nature to do that. That was one thing I was really excited about.”

The pressure isn’t great on Hartenstein, who arrived to a backup role behind Mitchell Robinson. But for Brunson, it’s different — coming from a secondary role in Dallas but expected to lead a team that has been disjointed and hard to watch at times, desperately in need of what he provides as a floor general.

“It can be tough anywhere but obviously it’s tough in New York,” Brunson said. “It’s a new challenge and you’re going to be faced with challenges every step of your life. So, obviously, with the team we had last year — a great team — just the next step . . . But the mindset stays the same. All the stuff stays the same. Just a new team, different city., and just have to go from there.”

The Knicks have managed to adapt to the newcomers, particularly sharing the ball well with Brunson at the point. The team has piled up 52 assists in the first two preseason games, the starters seeming to take turns carrying the scoring load.

“You could just tell by how these guys are,” Brunson said. “You could just tell, as soon as I walked in, just get a feel for how my teammates would be. I knew right away that these guys are going to be good. No matter what the situation is, they’re going to push and they’re going to work hard. I didn’t really have doubts from that point on. I knew there was something special being built here. We just have to be able to stick together and try to achieve our goals.”

“We might not have a Kawhi Leonard or someone like that,” Hartenstein said. “But we have a lot of great guys who can really help us win. That’s really the only way we can really win is if we play together and play hard together.”

Notes & quotes: Thibodeau said that Quentin Grimes would sit out Wednesday night, missing his third straight preseason game as he works his way through foot soreness that has hampered him through camp. “Just following the plan,” Thibodeau said. “He did some [work in practice]. Some days are going to be a little more than others, but coming along well.”-

By Steve Popper

steve.popper@newsday.com@StevePopper

Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.