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Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a three-year, $87 million contract. Hartenstein emerged with the New York Knicks these past two seasons as one of the league's best non-star centers.

Hartenstein will give the Thunder a tremendous lift on the glass.

Via Shams Charania/The Athletic

This is a massive overpay unless the final year is a team option. Watch Cuttino Mobley’s Instagram to see how overrated iHart is as a defender and a screener. He makes a lot of boneheaded errors. He lost the Knicks Game 3 vs Indy by goaltending with under a minute left. That cost them the series and going up 3-0. He’s worth $19 million per season at best. Thunder could’ve likely gotten him at four years $80 million with the last season being a team option.

Huge loss for the Knicks -- elite defensive versatility, exceptional passing and ability to hit the floater -- but iHart made the right decision.

There is no way he could have every turned that offer down ( especially when Knicks would never be able to come close to matching ).

Worst of all for the Knicks - much of the "quality" available free agent centers are alright signed.

This was a massive overpay by OKC. I can't blame Hartenstein for taking life-changing money or the Knicks for not matching that offer. However, where does New York turn now? They definitely can't stand pat and leave their center rotation as Robinson and Sims. Even Mason Plumlee is already off the market for God's sake.

Skipwhethers wrote:This was a massive overpay by OKC. I can't blame Hartenstein for taking life-changing money or the Knicks for not matching that offer. However, where does New York turn now? They definitely can't stand pat and leave their center rotation as Robinson and Sims. Even Mason Plumlee is already off the market for God's sake.

They can re-sign Achiuwa for four years, $20 million with a team option for the fourth year, and sign Boogie Cousins to a vet minimum deal.

Disaster for the Knicks. Puts them behind Boston and Philly

About 15 million too much in my opinion

elmdawgg69 wrote:

Skipwhethers wrote:This was a massive overpay by OKC. I can't blame Hartenstein for taking life-changing money or the Knicks for not matching that offer. However, where does New York turn now? They definitely can't stand pat and leave their center rotation as Robinson and Sims. Even Mason Plumlee is already off the market for God's sake.

They can re-sign Achiuwa for four years, $20 million with a team option for the fourth year, and sign Boogie Cousins to a vet minimum deal.

Backup center is the easiest position to fill in the NBA.

That's just crazy. Why they pay him superstar money

DoctorDunc wrote:Disaster for the Knicks. Puts them behind Boston and Philly

Disagree… this was widely expected since February. Don’t forget Mitch is a way better defender and screener. Mitch has always been the starting center for this Knicks team. Mitch is amazing. And Randle is back. He’ll be playing some 5 for a quarter of the game.

Will be missed by Knicks fans but it's too much money and he deserves tô take his money right now.

OKC = Oklahoma Clowns

There was no way for the Knicks to match the offer that OKC made.

Will go so far as to say, that even if Knicks had iHart's bird rights -- and OKC put a 3 year $87M deal on the table ( front-loaded contract with 3 year as team option ) -- Knicks would not outbid OKC to keep iHart due to the severe implications of the new CBA rules.

While it is a loss, iHart would have left either way -- he outplayed his contract and there was no way that Knicks would be ponying up $29+M for the next 3 seasons for a semi-starter center position - especially when Jalen Brunson / Randle / Bridges contract extensions are looming.

Knicks have to re-think the concept of their front court -- i.e. OG defensive spot minutes @ 5, Randle offensive spot minutes @ 5 -- essentially small ball lineups.

IHart is great but Knicks will be fine. Any veteran center will do for them. The rest of their roster with MB is scary great.

He did well for Knicks and Knicks did well for him in getting him the visibility only Knicks, Lakers, Warriors, Celtics can do. He may never see that kind of money in his NBA journey unless he adds a 3-point shot (in the 35%) and fine-tunes that tear drop shot we enjoyed so much. 1000% Well deserved iHart. Everyday he should thank God for not playing for the likes of Hornets, Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies and possibly Pistons where the Return On Improvement (ROI) is much less