After Oklahoma City's loss to Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinals, many analysts and observers have speculated that the Thunder will look to add a big man over the offseason.Isaiah Hartensteinand company do elect to go after the six-year veteran, it would be a huge addition, as Hartenstein started 49 games for one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference and played more than 25 minutes per game.
Bringing in a player who sees the court as much as Hartenstein would be a huge shakeup to the Thunder's rotation. With Hartenstein likely come off the bench in OKC,would see their roles decrease as the team gives more minutes to the former Knicks big man.in the starting lineup, Hartenstein does not have the skill set to start in Daigneault's offense.
Additionally, Hartenstein is a solid passer, which fits well with Daigneault's system and would help make the big man less of an outlier on the court in the Modern Frontier. In 2023-24, Hartenstein averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting over 64% from the field.
While he may not be able to start in OKC, Hartenstein offers plenty of other skills that make him a valuable role player, especially on a winning team. Hartenstein is coming off of a two year deal with the Knicks that saw the former second round pick earn close to $9 million each season. The talented center is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will likely have plenty of suitors in free agency.