Isaiah Hartenstein’s place with the Oklahoma City Thunder may not be secure next season. The Thunder didn’t move up in the Draft Lottery, putting Hartenstein on notice.
Hartenstein’s Importance to the Thunder
Hartenstein has been important to the Thunder the last two seasons. He has been a stalwart in the middle, starting next to Chet Holmgren. He is considered a mass of shot-blocking, rebounding, screen-setting humanity. Much of the credit for the Thunder’s historically good defence goes to Hartenstein.
The Thunder are on track to win a second consecutive championship with Hartenstein starting in the middle. They would keep him for next season and beyond if they could.
Financial Implications for Oklahoma
The problem is money and the NBA’s new penalties on teams that try to spend too much of it. When a team’s payroll crosses certain thresholds called “tax aprons” the league’s new rulebook inflicts harsh penalties on teams. The Thunder are about to get really expensive.
Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all signed to long-term deals. These deals are expensive and kicking in at the same time. The team’s payroll will spike next season, and they will rocket above those tax aprons if they cannot cut salary somewhere. The logical answer is Isaiah Hartenstein.
Draft Strategy and Potential Replacements
Hartenstein signed a three-year contract two offseasons ago, and it came with a third-year team option. The Thunder have the ability to decline that option and let him hit unrestricted free agency, clearing his money off of their books entirely. Doing such a bold move only makes sense if they have a replacement.
Right now, there is not a perfect candidate for that spot on the roster. Jaylin Williams is a different kind of big, and rookie Thomas Sorber is missing his entire first season due to injury.
The league was terrified that the Thunder would move up from the 12th slot to win a Top 4 pick, adding another star to a star-studded roster. In such a scenario, the Thunder would be adding a forward or a combo guard, not a center.
Possible Draft Picks at Center
The Thunder failed to move up, staying put with the 12th pick. In that range, the guards start to thin out, the wings and forwards are covered in warts — and the centers abound.
- The Thunder could draft Aday Mara, a hulking 7’3″ center.
- Hannes Steinbach could be available as well, a skilled German big just like Hartenstein.
- Jayden Quaintance has elite defensive upside.
If the Thunder draft a center in the first round for the second consecutive year, it will signal to Hartenstein that he should start polishing up his resume. They have to cut salary somewhere, and building up a cadre of inexpensive young centers puts them in a position to cut Hartenstein.