Isaiah Hartenstein put on notice as Thunder are now poised to replace him
The Oklahoma City Thunder did not transfer up within the Draft Lottery on Sunday afternoon. And that places Isaiah Hartenstein on notice that his job is probably not safe subsequent season.
Saying that the Thunder have wanted Hartenstein the final two seasons is an understatement. He has been a stalwart within the center, a mass of shot-blocking, rebounding, screen-setting humanity beginning subsequent to Chet Holmgren. Much of the credit score for the Thunder’s traditionally good protection goes to I-Hart.
Would the Thunder transfer on from Hartenstein?
Why, then, would the Thunder need to transfer on from him? On the floor, they do not. He has been a two-way stud, it’s on a good contract and suits their system completely. They are on observe to win a second consecutive championship with Hartenstein beginning within the center. If they may, they’d maintain him for subsequent season and past.
The downside is cash — and, extra particularly, the NBA’s new penalties on groups that attempt to spend an excessive amount of of it. When a group’s payroll crosses sure thresholds referred to as “tax aprons” the league’s new rulebook inflicts harsh penalties on groups. And the Thunder are about to get actually costly.
Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are all signed to long-term offers (nice) that are costly and kicking on the similar time (not as nice). With the group’s payroll spiking subsequent season, they’ll rocket above these tax aprons if they can’t lower wage someplace. The logical reply is Isaiah Hartenstein.
When Hartenstein signed his three-year contract two offseasons in the past, he got here with a third-year group choice. The Thunder have the flexibility to decline that choice and let him hit unrestricted free company, clearing his cash off of their books completely.
The Thunder can replace Hartenstein
Doing such a daring transfer solely is smart if they’ve a substitute, and proper now, there’s not an ideal candidate for that spot on the roster. Jaylin Williams is a distinct form of huge, and rookie Thomas Sorber is lacking his complete first season due to harm.
Enter the 2026 NBA Draft. The league was terrified that the Thunder would transfer up from the twelfth slot to win a Top 4 decide, including one other star to a fully star-studded roster. In such a state of affairs, the Thunder could be including a ahead or a combo guard, not a middle.
What occurred as an alternative if that the Thunder failed to transfer up, staying put with the twelfth decide. In that vary, the guards begin to skinny out, the wings and forwards are lined in warts — and the facilities abound.
The Thunder could draft Aday Maraa hulking 7’3″ center who manned the middle for the Michigan Wolverines to win the title last year. Hannes Steinbach could be available as well, a skilled German big just like Hartenstein. Jayden Quaintance has elite defensive upside.
If the Thunder do draft a center in the first round for the second consecutive year, it will be a loud signal to Hartenstein that he should start polishing up his resume. They have to cut salaries somewhere, and building up a cadre of inexpensive young centers puts them in a position to cut Hartenstein’s.
The Thunder would love to keep him around. They would love to keep everyone around. But if push comes to shove, the draft lottery makes it plausible to move on from Hartenstein.