Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #3

[sco]

WOW 29 mil a year for IHart?

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I LOVE him, but seems like an overpay. He's a great MLE C, he's not in the Embiid/Joker mold. Not a scorer or a ball handler or 3pt shooter.

[drosestruts]

I think Hartenstein played a bigger role in the Knicks success than people think. His value is not so easily replaced for New york.

[ChiefILL53]

I think iHart played a big role for the Knicks, and is the reason some of us had hoped the bulls got him that summer, but 29 mil is kinda CRAZY. However OKC had space and it's just 3 years so I guess it's not that bad? ....maybe?

[Ice Man]

It's a better deal than Steven Adams for 4 years/$100 million in 2017, as the salary cap is now much higher, but yeah it's an overpay. A center is a center.

[rosenthall]

I remember when some on this board were pining to give iHart the full MLE for 4 years when he became a FA. The thinking was that he had all the trappings of a productive C and having him around would make it easier to move on from Vuc when the time came.

Hindsight has been kind to that idea.

[yifsuibfe1]

Third year of Hartenstein deal is fully non-guaranteed as well, to coincide with the Chet/Jalen extensions. Thunder stay winning.

[DropStep]

I think iHart played a big role for the Knicks, and is the reason some of us had hoped the bulls got him that summer, but 29 mil is kinda CRAZY. However OKC had space and it's just 3 years so I guess it's not that bad? ....maybe?

Yep. The playoffs proved this was a real need for them, and Muscala wasn't enough to help. Hartenstein should, and he has playoff starter experience. The years do feel important - some of their youngs will need paid around then, so extra years could have been a bigger problem than extra dollars.

[DASMACKDOWN]

But iHart is a backup center.

No way Drummond is worth 5 mil and IHart 29. That is insane a million times over. OKC got duped.

I think me and Ice are in agreement here. The NBA completely screws up the value amount that centers should make.

Val - 10 mil - OK
Claxton - 25mil NO WAY
Drummond - 5 mil YES that is more like it.
IHart - 29 mil HELL NO

[MrSparkle]

But iHart is a backup center.

No way Drummond is worth 5 mil and IHart 29. That is insane a million times over. OKC got duped.

I think me and Ice are in agreement here. The NBA completely screws up the value amount that centers should make.

Val - 10 mil - OK
Claxton - 25mil NO WAY
Drummond - 5 mil YES that is more like it.
IHart - 29 mil HELL NO

I think Hartenstein is a perfect playoff role-player, but agreed. $29M is way too much but OKC is doubling down on their exact build, so it's unlikely they worry about keeping the cap open clean before Chet and Shai's extensions.

Unlike JV/AD, Hartenstein can probably seamlessly play and interchange with Chet at PF or C match-ups, whereas the others are strictly Cs with bad spacing and very limited perimeter defense.

To me, the Thunder are looking like the WCF favorites by a mile. Mile higher than the mile-high city. They still have the whole pick-chest ready for a huge trade. I'd say they can afford to overpay in FA for a good role-player.

Makes sense now to wait until the deadline, to see who becomes available. They'll have a lot of contracts to move.

[kodo]

Even as a Presti fanboy since I was in Seattle, I straight up think that's (Hartenstein) a bad contract. Granted he helps the OKC issues post playoff loss, but that's such an overpay even with the cap going up 10% every year. It's not an asset. And Hart won't have a chance to "prove himself" because he's going to into his late 20s and he'll be just a backup to Chet.

I said AC was not that amazing a trade for them because their clear needs post playoffs were A) size, their D crumbled when Chet took a breather or got in foul trouble B) rebounding 27th this season C) someone to run half court offense other than SGA. Hart helps 2 of the 3, and ignoring his salary he'll be a great addition.

I think it just further shows how dead the NBA Free Agency is when this is the best an elite team could do with cap space.
10 years ago if the #1 WC team had $30M in cap space we'd be talking about potential dynasty. This year, they get a backup center.

[DuckIII]

Ugh on Hartenstein. I understand wanting to go for it and getting a bruiser of a center next to Chet to do it. But OKC has so much time and so many assets, I'm surprised Presti gave out a deal like this to Hartenstein.

[HomoSapien]

Hartenstein is really overpaid, but adding Caruso + Hartenstein to a 57-win team seems like a solid championship play. If I'm placing a Vegas bet for a championship, they're my bet.

[Salo23]

Hartenstein is in his prime and only guaranteed for 2 years, not as bad of a contract as people are saying.

[KissedByaRose1]

You make those kinda overpays when you're as close to a title as OKC is. They've had an awesome summer and will be my pick to come out of the west for sure.

[pipfan]

I see OKC as the best team in the league next year
Already very strong
Lots of young players who will improve
Two great additions-will have a super elite defense
Event added that euro PG for the future

[Infinity2152]

Posted in the other thread, but for those who want to know Klay agreed to sign with Mavericks for 3 yrs/$50 million.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday that Thompson will sign a three-year, $50m contract with the Mavericks, who reached last month’s NBA finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. Thompson, who played for the Warriors for 13 seasons after they drafted him No 11 overall in 2011, reportedly turned down more lucrative offers from other teams as he wanted to join a title contender. The Associated Press reported that the deal will be executed as a sign-and-trade involving the Warriors, Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets. Mavericks guard Josh Green is understood to be moving to Charlotte as part of the deal.

[kulaz3000]

Ugh on Hartenstein. I understand wanting to go for it and getting a bruiser of a center next to Chet to do it. But OKC has so much time and so many assets, I'm surprised Presti gave out a deal like this to Hartenstein.

Do they have so much time? I think it's a great move. They still have the bulk of their draft equity in their back pocket, if they really need to pivot. But as far as they are concerned, they are in the best position they've ever been with this current rendition of the team to go for it and not continue to wait. And plus, it's such a short deal, which makes the deal even smarter.

[BrooklynBulls]

Ugh on Hartenstein. I understand wanting to go for it and getting a bruiser of a center next to Chet to do it. But OKC has so much time and so many assets, I'm surprised Presti gave out a deal like this to Hartenstein.

OKC has carefully worked their caproom game for years. And now I believe theyve done the math and can keep that whole squad together for the next 2 years for sure, and possibly 3 if theyre worthy of it. They frontloaded Hartensteins deal, so its 27.5m in the only year that matters to them, the last one. And if need be, dumping him as an expiring for less salary should be simple because they have what amounts to unlimited draft capital. Its a win now move that they figure is not going to cause problems in the long run, and I think theyre right.

[theanimal23]

New CBA - teams under the cap also get the MLE? It used to be that either you had cap space or MLE - right?

[HomoSapien]

I’m really curious about what the Warriors end up doing. Steph is still so good that you can’t just waste the season. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t show more interest in Lavine. He’d look amazing there.