Sam Presti’s brilliance has been fully displayed over the last few NBA seasons. Ever since that infamous Paul George trade, the mastermind behind the Oklahoma City Thunder has gone from strength to strength. Whether it was ideal draft selections or finding diamonds in the rough, the OKC GM has done a marvelous job.
After years of waiting, however, the Thunder took a gigantic step forward last season. Powered by an elite rotation and a bonafide MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma finished as the 1 seed. With names like Jaylen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort, the team was deep and complete.
The only real knock against them was rebounding, ultimately leading to their downfall. In their second-round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, the difference on the boards spelled disaster for Mark Daigneault and his men.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks Updates
But, with two quick moves, the team has done an excellent job of addressing that deficit. Now, last year’s one seed looks even more dangerous going into next season. The cream of the crop came after a long negotiation process. But, finally, Isaiah Hartenstein is joining the Thunder on a 3-year, $87 million deal.
How Isaiah Hartenstein is the perfect solution for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Coach Daigneault didn’t pay much attention when the rebounding differential first came to the forefront during the season. He says, “A lot of nights we lose the rebounding battle. And as long as the benefit continues to outweigh the cost, we’re going to continue to accept the trade-offs. We’re not going to be the perfect team…At the end of the day, there’s more to the game than just rebounding…If we try to solve every problem, then we’re gonna be trying to chase our shadow.”
Then, no free agents were available for OKC to go after. Further, any trade would hamper the balance and chemistry the team had found throughout the season. As the 1-seed in a brutal Western Conference, arguing against Coach’s ideology was hard.
But with new information comes a fresher perspective. After the loss to Dallas, when the rebounding battle was once again askew, the solution was simple: Find solid rebounding options. The team found the perfect complementary pieces in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks Updates
Thanks to its young core, the Thunder had ample cap space and could offer iHart a massive payday, far more than the Knicks’ $72 million for four years offer. Moreover, the Caruso trade was doubly beneficial, as the team got rid of Josh Giddey, who had been rendered borderline unplayable during most of the playoffs.
Hartenstein, a career journeyman, had a career year in New York. After averaging 8 points and a shade over 8 rebounds in a backup capacity, he took over the starting role when Mitchell Robinson went down with an injury. During that playoff run, his defense and rebounding were invaluable as the Knicks went seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals
Where will the Knicks pivot to after losing out on Hartenstein?
For the Knicks, the situation becomes far more convoluted. While they have one of the deepest all-around rosters in the sport, their big-man rotation remains suspect. Behind an injury-prone Robinson, their backup option is Jericho Sims.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks Updates
The team must pivot to a different option, with them losing out on the Isaiah sweepstakes. Unfortunately, the first few days have been rife with center deals, and most of the premier names are off the market. Players like Jonas Valanciunas, Andre Drummond, Mo Bamba, Goga Bitadze, and Mason Plumlee have all found new destinations going into 2024-25.
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