Isaiah Hartenstein agreed to a $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder for three years, departing from the New York Knicks. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, this transaction represents a major improvement for Hartenstein, who originally signed with the Knicks for a two-year, $16 million deal in 2022.
Hartenstein’s time with the Knicks was extremely beneficial. He participated in every game of the 2022-23 season, assisting the Knicks in making it back to the playoffs. During the previous season, he took over as the main center when Mitchell Robinson got injured, playing a key role in the Knicks’ playoff journey, where they were just one game away from the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks’ Hurdles in Re-Signing Hartenstein
The Knicks encountered two primary obstacles in retaining Hartenstein:
- Early Bird Rights Limitation: The Knicks restricted themselves to a 75% salary increase by giving Hartenstein a two-year contract in 2022. This equaled slightly more than $16.1 million for the upcoming season and $72.5 million over a four-year period, significantly lower than the Thunder’s offer.
- Hard Cap Issues: The acquisition of Mikal Bridges by the Knicks prior to the NBA Draft led to a challenging cap situation. Depending on the completion of the transaction, the cap would either be $178.7 million (first apron) or $189.5 million (second apron). This required freeing up more salary in order to re-sign Hartenstein, but it was not possible.
Oklahoma City’s Strategic Addition
Hartenstein provides an important inside presence that the Thunder need. OKC was the NBA’s youngest top seed last season. But they were eliminated in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. In part because of deficiencies in rim protection and rebounding. Hartenstein’s coming helps to tackle these deficiencies.
Moreover, adding Alex Caruso to the Thunder’s roster by trading Josh Giddey with the Chicago Bulls has strengthened their team even more. By making these maneuvers, OKC is setting itself up as a possible frontrunner in the Western Conference. SportsLine’s predictions show the Thunder’s odds of winning the championship rising from 8% to 12.1% following Hartenstein’s signing.
The Knicks’ Next Steps
Hartenstein’s exit creates a void at the second center position for the Knicks, especially considering Mitchell Robinson’s injury-prone past. It will be essential to find the perfect match in order to keep their competitive advantage. Hartenstein had a significant influence on the team. So finding a replacement is a top priority for the Knicks as they navigate the free-agent market and trade opportunities.
Conclusion
Isaiah Hartenstein transfer to the Oklahoma City Thunder marks a major change in the NBA environment. This solidifies the Thunder’s status as a strong Western Conference contender. For the Knicks, this highlights the difficulties of dealing with salary cap limitations and the significance of strategic roster management. With both teams adapting to these changes, the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season is set to be thrilling.
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