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If everything were equal, Isaiah Hartenstein would have stayed with the New York Knicks instead of signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent. If a team as good as the Thunder hadn't made him an offer, Hartenstein would have even taken less money to stay with the Knicks too. But the combination of everything was too much to pass up.

"I was going to make sure I was set for the rest of my life," Hartenstein said. "But then at the same time, if it wasn’t a team like OKC, I would’ve taken a pay cut because I loved it (in New York). But I now have an opportunity to make that money, make that pay raise, and still compete. I think that was the main factor."

Hartenstein said that Knicks star Jalen Brunson tried to convince him to stay. However, the veteran center said Brunson taking less money to stay in New York wasn't the same as his situation.

"He’s kind of in a different situation than I’m in. Already made $100 million (in his career). He’s the star player, knows he probably won’t ever get traded. So, it’s a different situation," Hartenstein said.

The new Thunder center that Brunson's decision showed what kind of leader he is. And that was part of what made it hard to leave New York.

“It was hard. For me, if it wasn’t a situation like Oklahoma City with a chance to win, I don’t think I would’ve left. But that money is — you have to think about it, I just had a child so. … But it was really hard,” said Hartenstein. "I love New York. I love the front office, I loved my team. So, it was definitely hard. If it wasn’t a situation where I felt like I really had a chance to win, I probably wouldn’t have left."

Via Stefan Bondy/New York Post

This guy is making it seem like he was poor making $7 million a year and now he’s rich with this new contract and can afford to take care of his child. He made the right decision for sure, don’t get me wrong.

OKC deal is 87m over 3 yr, NY deal is 72m over 4 yr, so he left because of the extra 15m that his new born would need.

Wish he would have stayed, but not everyone is Jalen Brunson

It's all good Isaiah. We love you, buddy. Good luck in OKC.

Some of y’all’s month would change if you found $100 on the street and yall are acting like $15 million isn’t $15 million

kenwood3333 wrote:OKC deal is 87m over 3 yr, NY deal is 72m over 4 yr, so he left because of the extra 15m that his new born would need.

No, he left over the 15M plus whatever he makes in the first year of his next contract (let’s say 10M), as the Knicks deal is both lower and longer. You can also add the tax and cost of living savings of living in OKC.

kenwood3333 wrote:OKC deal is 87m over 3 yr, NY deal is 72m over 4 yr, so he left because of the extra 15m that his new born would need.

Your boss must love your math when it comes to salary.

elmdawgg69 wrote:This guy is making it seem like he was poor making $7 million a year and now he’s rich with this new contract and can afford to take care of his child. He made the right decision for sure, don’t get me wrong.

If you read it that way, that's on you. he's not 'making it seem' like that.

kenwood3333 wrote:OKC deal is 87m over 3 yr, NY deal is 72m over 4 yr, so he left because of the extra 15m that his new born would need.

Why would he take that big of a paycut to begin with? He is not from the area. He didn't go to Villanova. He doesn't owe anybody there anything. He gets the biggest payday of his career while playing on a contender. Then he gets to re-enter free agency at 29.

With the cap and MLE going up every year. He probably gets the MLE at least at 29. So it would be $30M or more he would have given up to stay.

Love the honesty. He seems like a genuine guy. He’s expressing both remorse and logic. In the end of the day, you have to look out for you and yours. Family first.