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

[CKB]

OKC has a 3 year window to win a championship. This deal will push them over the top.

[Clyde Frazier]

Insanity.

Hartenstein is a nice player, but you can get 75% of what he brings from most backup centers in the league, at a few million per year.

NBA owner and GM's cannot help but screw themselves every free agency period. It's ridiculous.

You're totally underselling what he brings to the table and ignoring the other salaries being given out with the new salary cap. A few million per year is hilarious.

[Sixers in 4]

For those saying OKC paid too much, they've frontloaded the contract, and year 3 is not guaranteed. So, they had exactly that much money in their cap space over the next two years. What would be the point of hanging onto it? Unless you're hoping to save Clay Bennett and co a few million dollars, this is a perfect signing for the Thunder. THIS is why they traded for Gordon Hayward. His outgoing salary created this opportunity. Presti is a genius.

People always think free agency/player contracts are like shopping on Amazon and that if you wait until prime day that you always always get the perfect skillset/role/price deals for whatever you want.

I think people look at OKC as some sort of feel good story rather than the legit powerhouse they have/had the potential to be. They have a ton of guys on rookie deals now was the time to trade for someone like Jimmy who would actually move the needle in a significant way not fill out the bench.

Are they better? Yes but it's hard to look at this team roster and cap space heading into the offseason and not be disappointed with them not getting a big fish.

[Slimjimzv]

Title favorites easily to me. Yes, much better than Boston and Philly.

Nope. They got dominated by an average Mavs team. Adding Caruso and Hart won't put them on the level of Boston new York or philly

They might make it out the west though

Both 'dominated' and 'average' are wildly incorrect descriptives.

[Slimjimzv]

For those saying OKC paid too much, they've frontloaded the contract, and year 3 is not guaranteed. So, they had exactly that much money in their cap space over the next two years. What would be the point of hanging onto it? Unless you're hoping to save Clay Bennett and co a few million dollars, this is a perfect signing for the Thunder. THIS is why they traded for Gordon Hayward. His outgoing salary created this opportunity. Presti is a genius.

People always think free agency/player contracts are like shopping on Amazon and that if you wait until prime day that you always always get the perfect skillset/role/price deals for whatever you want.

I think people look at OKC as some sort of feel good story rather than the legit powerhouse they have/had the potential to be. They have a ton of guys on rookie deals now was the time to trade for someone like Jimmy who would actually move the needle in a significant way not fill out the bench.

Are they better? Yes but it's hard to look at this team roster and cap space heading into the offseason and not be disappointed with them not getting a big fish.

They have their big fish. Shai has improved every season, so we STILL don't know if he's hit his ceiling, Chet and Jdub show every indication that they'll be better next season. How many teams can say they have 3 top 30 players? No, they needed to fill gaps and solve the Giddey issue. They did both of those as well as anyone could have hoped.

[Teen Girl Squad]

For those saying OKC paid too much, they've frontloaded the contract, and year 3 is not guaranteed. So, they had exactly that much money in their cap space over the next two years. What would be the point of hanging onto it? Unless you're hoping to save Clay Bennett and co a few million dollars, this is a perfect signing for the Thunder. THIS is why they traded for Gordon Hayward. His outgoing salary created this opportunity. Presti is a genius.

People always think free agency/player contracts are like shopping on Amazon and that if you wait until prime day that you always always get the perfect skillset/role/price deals for whatever you want.

I think people look at OKC as some sort of feel good story rather than the legit powerhouse they have/had the potential to be. They have a ton of guys on rookie deals now was the time to trade for someone like Jimmy who would actually move the needle in a significant way not fill out the bench.

Are they better? Yes but it's hard to look at this team roster and cap space heading into the offseason and not be disappointed with them not getting a big fish.

Fair, though I honestly think IH helps their team more than what current Jimmy has to offer (who's been coasting on basically like a hot 6 games to start last years playoffs), especially for the likely price.

[Sweet Serenity]

Title favorites easily to me. Yes, much better than Boston and Philly.

Calm down

[The-Power]

I love Hartenstein for OKC but they couldn't get him on a 4 year term for that 87 Mill? He's about to make 29M per season, which is absurd loll.

Yeah it feels like they should have been able to get him for four years $100 million.

They probably don't want him on the books for four years. Contract front loaded and third year not guaranteed gives them great options when the roster becomes really expensive down the road. The Thunder don't care that they overpay for the next two seasons.

[The-Power]

Insanity.

Hartenstein is a nice player, but you can get 75% of what he brings from most backup centers in the league, at a few million per year.

NBA owner and GM's cannot help but screw themselves every free agency period. It's ridiculous.

You're totally underselling what he brings to the table and ignoring the other salaries being given out with the new salary cap. A few million per year is hilarious.

Also, Hartenstein may make an impact for them in the playoffs whereas someone who only provides 75% of what he does may not even see the court. That is what happens on strong teams with depth at the highest level of the sport.

Not to mention that OKC paying Hartenstein does not screw them over financially at all. People really need to understand that teams and their individual situations vastly differ and a problematic contract for one team can be a perfectly fine one for another.

[Capn'O]

Insanity.

Hartenstein is a nice player, but you can get 75% of what he brings from most backup centers in the league, at a few million per year.

NBA owner and GM's cannot help but screw themselves every free agency period. It's ridiculous.

You're totally underselling what he brings to the table and ignoring the other salaries being given out with the new salary cap. A few million per year is hilarious.

Also, Hartenstein may make an impact for them in the playoffs whereas someone who only provides 75% of what he does may not even see the court. That is what happens on strong teams with depth at the highest level of the sport.

Not to mention that OKC paying Hartenstein does not screw them over financially at all. People really need to understand that teams and their individual situations vastly differ and a problematic contract for one team can be a perfectly fine one for another.

The offseason of 26 could be an interesting/expensive one for them. But they're fine until then.

[celticfan42487]

#1 seed last year adds Caruso and iHart and gets rid of Giddey.

Probably are the favorites considering they're actually so young that internal improvement for them is materially more than it is for other teams.

We'll just have to see how Chet adjusts to being a 4 next to iHart.

Unfortunate for the Knicks but they now also join the list of like half the league that has 1 good Center on their team that has some injury questions and wishes it had a backup Center.

[Bleed-Green]

Title favorites easily to me. Yes, much better than Boston and Philly.

Nope. They got dominated by an average Mavs team. Adding Caruso and Hart won't put them on the level of Boston new York or philly

They might make it out the west though

Both 'dominated' and 'average' are wildly incorrect descriptives.

Mavs were a pretty average team - outside of Luka and Kyrie they have very little talent on offensive end, which ended up being one of reasons why Mavs didn't score even 100 points in a single serious game in the finals (excluding the throwaway game)

[Bleed-Green]

I do think that it was a slight overpay, but it's not a bad contract because it doesn't screw up OKC's cap situation.
There is obvious question of fit, but they should get it to work. However, they still have absolute 0 production from bench, which remains an issue.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Title favorites easily to me. Yes, much better than Boston and Philly.

Why... why do you do this to yourself.

Let's see what happens, but on paper they are the most complete team.

[Phish Tank]

damn.....

well at least the Knicks tried, but it's impossible turning down $30M a year compared to the $16.6 he'd receive this season.

Early Bird Rights rules bit the Knicks.

That AAV is going to be an overpay, but it may just be worth it for OKC if it's the difference between being a 2nd round exit vs a Finals contender. IHart has diminishing returns when exceeding 30+ mins/game, but they'll probably manage.

[Johnny Bball]

Title favorites easily to me. Yes, much better than Boston and Philly.

Why... why do you do this to yourself.

Let's see what happens, but on paper they are the most complete team.

No, they really are not. Not even in the west.

[BigGargamel]

Man, I can't believe the same guy who literally couldn't catch a pass when he played for Denver is now making 87 mill, and I don't think it's a bad deal. He's worked so hard to improve and is now a very good player.

OKC is definitely the cream of the crop in the West IMO. They were the 1 seed and added Caruso and Hartenstein. Good luck trying to score against these guys. Amazing defensive athletes all over the place.

They also resigned Isaiah Joe, a marksman from three point range. This is an absolutely complete team.

[iggymcfrack]

For those saying OKC paid too much, they've frontloaded the contract, and year 3 is not guaranteed. So, they had exactly that much money in their cap space over the next two years. What would be the point of hanging onto it? Unless you're hoping to save Clay Bennett and co a few million dollars, this is a perfect signing for the Thunder. THIS is why they traded for Gordon Hayward. His outgoing salary created this opportunity. Presti is a genius.

People always think free agency/player contracts are like shopping on Amazon and that if you wait until prime day that you always always get the perfect skillset/role/price deals for whatever you want.

I think people look at OKC as some sort of feel good story rather than the legit powerhouse they have/had the potential to be. They have a ton of guys on rookie deals now was the time to trade for someone like Jimmy who would actually move the needle in a significant way not fill out the bench.

Are they better? Yes but it's hard to look at this team roster and cap space heading into the offseason and not be disappointed with them not getting a big fish.

You don’t think they “moved the needle”?. You’re “disappointed”? They have a top 60 guy, a top 40 guy, 2 top 15 guys, and the best or second best player in the league, plus a great bench. This team could win 65-70 games. The last thing they need is to package their incredible support guys for a past his prime oft-injured again star that doesn’t shoot well from three. This team, as constructed is going to be absolutely dominant.

[Kiss of Death]

It is definitely a massive overpay for a role player.

OKC must not believe that Chet is a viable starting center because I doubt they would give $30 M a year to a backup.

But, can Chet defend as a PF, and doesn’t moving him to PF waste his shot blocking?

Chet couldn’t guard centers either. Or rebound.

That’s why they paid a role player $30 M a year to replace him.

[winforlose]

It is definitely a massive overpay for a role player.

OKC must not believe that Chet is a viable starting center because I doubt they would give $30 M a year to a backup.

But, can Chet defend as a PF, and doesn’t moving him to PF waste his shot blocking?

Chet couldn’t guard centers either. Or rebound.

That’s why they paid a role player $30 M a year to replace him.

Fair, but he could shot block and rim protect. When Taj Gibson went to Minnesota in the Jimmy Butler year, he was PF who sometimes guarded Centers to keep KAT out of foul trouble. Meanwhile KAT rebounded the position quite well. Chet’s best asset on defense is his shot blocking. I don’t think this is how you want to develop him, getting him away from that. Karl was natural 4 playing the 5, Chet is natural 5 who will now be asked to play the 4.