Thunder might have overpaid for Isaiah Hartenstein

Most of the NBA world praised the Oklahoma City Thunder for landing center Isaiah Hartenstein.

However, after closely examining the numbers on the deal that the OKC awarded Hartenstein, some analysts have wondered if paying a predominantly backup center $87 million over three years is a worthy investment.

While OKC has expressed confidence in their offseason acquisition and expects Hartenstein to be a seamless fit with the ascending Chet Holmgren, Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus suggests the Thunder may regret agreeing to pay the former New York Knicks center such big money.

OKC's most questionable contract

Pincus recently took the time to evaluate which contract each NBA team will regret most. Pincus' analysis ranks each team's most regrettable contract from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level of regret.

Remember that not all the players on his list necessarily have bad or regrettable contracts since Pincus chose one contract per team. While he gives Hartenstein the distinction of being the player OKC may most regret signing, his words and rankings indicate this is not such a bad contract.

"The Thunder have managed their team about as well as any franchise. Hartenstein was paid more than many people in the industry expected, but it's a short deal," he wrote , ranking the regret level at 2/10.

Hartenstein's signing wise, even if doesn't pan out

The signing of the 26-year-old big man — coming off the best of his seven NBA seasons — is unlikely to turn into a decision the front office regrets. Inserting an improving young star into a rotation glittered with emerging talent is rarely a formula for disaster.

With the Thunder discovering its dire need for an extra center and staunch rebounder in last season's playoffs, Hartenstein was the best answer available in free agency. He can play a role catered to maximize his strengths and will have no problem coming off the bench, a role he has grown accustomed to.

Even if it doesn't work out, I-Hart is locked in for only two seasons. His three-year contract is fully guaranteed but includes a team option for the final year. This will give the Thunder flexibility to either cut ties with Hartenstein or restructure his deal.

Hartenstein also has a front-loaded contract, meaning he'll be due more money in the first year of his deal than in the final year. Therefore, even if the Thunder pick up his option two summers from now, the big man's contract will exhaust just 13.8% of the team's luxury tax in the 2026–27 season.

I-Hart will help Chet grow

The bottom line is that Hartenstein's signing has far more upsides than potential downsides. In addition to the rim protection he delivers, the glass-cleaning center has a diverse offensive skill set and can provide an interior presence to support Holmgren.

Alongside I-Hart, Chet will not have to guard the opposing team's center and can operate more often on the ball and the perimeter.

Signing Hartenstein for nearly $90 million may be a pricey gamble for OKC — but one worth doing.

Related: Barkley praises OKC for a successful offseason