[Woj] Free agent C Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed on a three-year, $87 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder

[Slacktard]

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They couldn’t offer more than another team? How?

Because the Knicks only had his 'early bird rights' and are over the cap. They signed him as a free agent two years. Players who spend 2 years with a team after signing as a free agent only give that team 'early bird rights'.

Early Bird Rights allow for a maximum raise of 75% over the last season salary.

If Hartenstein had been signed to a 3-year contract he would have had full bird rights at the end of 3 years and the Knicks could have given him a max contract if they wanted to and been over the cap next season.

But a player who only spends 2 years with a team following a FA signing falls under 'early bird rights' so they were limited based on not having cap space to only giving him a 75% raise. (Maybe they also could have ate into their MLE or something) not sure how that works, but basically they couldn't come that close to what OKC gave him.

[bebopdeluxe]

NYK looking very small on paper right now. Why are they holding on to Randle? Robinson cannot stay healthy and Randle makes no sense

You think there's a market for either Randle or Robinson?

Randle is still owed 2/60 (he will likely opt into 2025-26), and he has a 15% trade kicker to boot.

Good luck trading him for someone who will add value.

[djsunyc]

OKC has to be favorites now, assuming Porzingis will be injured as usual


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they're in a good spot but i think they still need a secondary iso scorer to really give them the leg up.

Jalen Williams has been improving continuously and is ready to step into this role in my opinion. Its just been a matter of touches and the inefficient Giddey possessions will go to him (like when teams left him unguarded).

Last year Jalen Williams put up 19/4/4.5 on 54/42/81 which is elite. He's ready for a bigger role.

i guess where i'm coming from is this: you're so close...let's push some chips and really go in and what makes okc's situation so unique is that they have 100 draft picks so even if it misses, they can move on from it really fast.

[basketballRob]

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They couldn’t offer more than another team? How?

Early bird rules.

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[Capn'O]

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They couldn’t offer more than another team? How?

We had early bird rights, not full bird.

[winforlose]

So I have a different take on this than the majority of the board. I have been saying OKC needed to get bigger and I appreciate the irony in the take I am about to make, but I actually wonder if IH was the wrong big for OKC? Before I break it down, I want to be clear, I don’t object to IH as a player, or think he shouldn’t command something in the range of around 23-25 with some allowance for overpaying to compete for his services, my only concern is about fit.

1. Chet Holmgren’s primary defensive skill set is in the paint. He is a shot blocker, he is a rim protector, and as he bulks up he could also be a consistent rebounder. While his 3 point shooting definitely allows him to play the PF, and his slight build may favor him at PF, he can also be defended well by power forwards. Jaden McDaniels is a small forward built like a small ball PF and he gave Chet problems. Giving teams a non shooter big man in IH allows defensive bigs to stay low and negates one of Chet’s best assets, his ability to draw out other teams bigs.

2. Having a non shooter big creates spacing problems for SGA. Ant has found that playing with Rudy is restrictive, and Rudy happens to be one of the best screen assist players in the game today. IH can set good screens, but he is no Rudy Gobert. Moreover, while it is true that SGA excels in the midrange, a packed paint will make it easier to keep him away from the rim. Without getting to the rim he won’t get as many whistles, and he lacks some of the tools other elite players have to impact the game without going to the line.

3. While a size advantage against smaller teams was definitely created by this move. I wonder if it addresses the existing twin towers in the west. For example can Chet guard KAT? Can IH contain Joker? I cannot help but wonder if a big PF with good floor spacing and the ability to fill in at the C wouldn’t be more profitable for OKC against the twin towers of the west. I get that IH is better built to play at the pace OKC wants to run, but we saw how flawed the roster was Giddey as a non shooter, and I don’t know that IH was the right replacement for him.

[Slacktard]

I think Hartenstein is a better move for OKC than going after Lauri. I think Lauri's offensive skill-set duplicates Chet's and may have hindered Chet and that Hartenstein may blend in better IMO.

[thelead]

Huge loss for the Knicks. Was hoping my Magic would snag him but it is what it is. OKC continuing to load up on players I like. They are going to be a tough out.

[TravisScott55]

Thunder are going to the finals.

[blueNorange]

Knicks messed up

no you messed up by being banned from posting on the knicks forum and now they’re one of the best teams in the league

[Marvin Martian]

So I have a different take on this than the majority of the board. I have been saying OKC needed to get bigger and I appreciate the irony in the take I am about to make, but I actually wonder if IH was the wrong big for OKC? Before I break it down, I want to be clear, I don’t object to IH as a player, or think he shouldn’t command something in the range of around 23-25 with some allowance for overpaying to compete for his services, my only concern is about fit.

1. Chet Holmgren’s primary defensive skill set is in the paint. He is a shot blocker, he is a rim protector, and as he bulks up he could also be a consistent rebounder. While his 3 point shooting definitely allows him to play the PF, and his slight build may favor him at PF, he can also be defended well by power forwards. Jaden McDaniels is a small forward built like a small ball PF and he gave Chet problems. Giving teams a non shooter big man in IH allows defensive bigs to stay low and negates one of Chet’s best assets, his ability to draw out other teams bigs.

Will edit with point 2.

IHart has enough skill to make teams pay for hanging in the paint. He can make passes to cutters and make ft line floaters

[whatisacenter]

Great fit for OKC!

[slick_watts]

So I have a different take on this than the majority of the board. I have been saying OKC needed to get bigger and I appreciate the irony in the take I am about to make, but I actually wonder if IH was the wrong big for OKC? Before I break it down, I want to be clear, I don’t object to IH as a player, or think he shouldn’t command something in the range of around 23-25 with some allowance for overpaying to compete for his services, my only concern is about fit.

1. Chet Holmgren’s primary defensive skill set is in the paint. He is a shot blocker, he is a rim protector, and as he bulks up he could also be a consistent rebounder. While his 3 point shooting definitely allows him to play the PF, and his slight build may favor him at PF, he can also be defended well by power forwards. Jaden McDaniels is a small forward built like a small ball PF and he gave Chet problems. Giving teams a non shooter big man in IH allows defensive bigs to stay low and negates one of Chet’s best assets, his ability to draw out other teams bigs.

Will edit with point 2.

i think hartenstein will occupy all non-chet minutes, which were a problem in the playoffs. and they will only play together 5-10 minutes a game. they'll be situational about it.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

Shai
Caruso
J Dub
Chet
Hartenstein

Joe
Wiggins
Dort
J Will

I imagine Dort starts over Caruso but they look great on paper!

Maybe but no question Caruso will finish.

[srhcan]

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huge overpay at 29 millions per year

[ArksNetsSince99]

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They couldn’t offer more than another team? How?

We had early bird rights, not full bird.

But you could offer the max , and do the rest based on incentives, and place the bar low

Big Fock up on the Knicks FO

[ArksNetsSince99]

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huge overpay at 29 millions per year

Not for the Knicks , he might of be the difference in beating the Celtics or Sixers when it matters

[PistolPeteJR]

Yeah idk feels like a lot for him

It’s not. His impact metrics peg him as a top 10-15 player in the league

Bruh.

[UcanUwill]

seems like a lot of money for him no?

This is a steal if anything.

$30M/yr is a steal for Hartenstein?

Valaciunas just got paid $10M/yr. Hartenstein is not $20M/yr better than JV.

Hartenstein was in DPOY conversations. Get real. This is a steal.

[Patches Perry]

So I have a different take on this than the majority of the board. I have been saying OKC needed to get bigger and I appreciate the irony in the take I am about to make, but I actually wonder if IH was the wrong big for OKC? Before I break it down, I want to be clear, I don’t object to IH as a player, or think he shouldn’t command something in the range of around 23-25 with some allowance for overpaying to compete for his services, my only concern is about fit.

1. Chet Holmgren’s primary defensive skill set is in the paint. He is a shot blocker, he is a rim protector, and as he bulks up he could also be a consistent rebounder. While his 3 point shooting definitely allows him to play the PF, and his slight build may favor him at PF, he can also be defended well by power forwards. Jaden McDaniels is a small forward built like a small ball PF and he gave Chet problems. Giving teams a non shooter big man in IH allows defensive bigs to stay low and negates one of Chet’s best assets, his ability to draw out other teams bigs.

Will edit with point 2.

IHart has enough skill to make teams pay for hanging in the paint. He can make passes to cutters and make ft line floaters

OKC also already had Giddey who opposing teams were guarding with their bigs and packing the paint.

Hartenstein gives them matchup flexibility. Anything they were successful with last year they can still do because they haven't lost anyone except Giddey. Hartenstein adds a new element, he doesn't change anything they've proven to be successful in doing.