Isaiah Hartenstein meeting with Thunder as Knicks face uphill climb to keep him

As expected, the center-needy Thunder are making a run at Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.

NBA insider Shams Charania is reporting that Oklahoma City is meeting with the 7-footer in Eugene, Ore. Sunday night.

The Knicks want to keep Hartenstein, but they can only offer him a contract of four years and $72.5 million.

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Hartenstein is coming off a year in which he averaged career-highs in rebounds (8.3), minutes (25.3) and steals (1.2), and he emerged as the Knicks’ starting center late in the year.

He enjoyed the two years he spent in New York, but the Knicks cannot pay him as others like the Thunder and Magic.

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The belief is that Hartenstein could command as much as $23 million per season.

Oklahoma City is viewed as a team on the rise and would like to improve its center situation.

Hartenstein seems like a perfect fit with that in mind.

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In a weak center market, the 26-year-old Hartenstein is a valuable asset, a strong two-way player.

He made his mark with the Knicks after bouncing around the league, going from the Rockets to the Nuggets to the Cavaliers.

Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks would obviously love to keep him.

But it may be out of their hands.

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