[Shams] -- Ihart to OKC 87/3

[Andre Roberstan]

The third year being unguaranteed. And the deal being front loaded.

Makes this a really good overpay IMO. Theres a chance he’s worth 27 mil at 28 years old in a league with a 170 mil cap playing 26-28mpg. Or he will be able to be traded in 12-18 months as an “expiring” if Chet does bulk a bit and you no longer need a big minute center..

Yeah, front loaded and last year NG makes this go from "he's good but yikes that's a lot of money" to being totally on board. GREAT work from the FO. I'm fully sold.

The money doesn't really matter for OKC till the 2026 offseason anyway; gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Great point. It's very savvy after reading the face-value of the deal.

It also gives you enough salary to go after a big name if someone's available and you really want to put the pedal to the metal. We finally have some medium-size salaries that work for that.

[Domejandro]

This is pretty much the (realistic) worst case scenario signing by OKC, from Minnesota's perspective. Realistically, I didn't see a strong pathway for them beating Minnesota with their existing front court, but Isaiah Hartenstein is a huge pickup for them.

[nykballa2k4]

Where does he rank in terms of pay for centers? Jokic, Embiid, Gobert, Ayton then iHart? then Porzingis

[Skin]

Brilliant and savvy move.

[R-DAWG]

The third year being unguaranteed. And the deal being front loaded.

Makes this a really good overpay IMO. Theres a chance he’s worth 27 mil at 28 years old in a league with a 170 mil cap playing 26-28mpg. Or he will be able to be traded in 12-18 months as an “expiring” if Chet does bulk a bit and you no longer need a big minute center..

Yeah, front loaded and last year NG makes this go from "he's good but yikes that's a lot of money" to being totally on board. GREAT work from the FO. I'm fully sold.

The money doesn't really matter for OKC till the 2026 offseason anyway; gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Has this been confirmed? Spotrac has this deal front loaded ($59.5mm over 2 years) but shows the 3rd year as guaranteed.

[WargamesX]

This is pretty much the (realistic) worst case scenario signing by OKC, from Minnesota's perspective. Realistically, I didn't see a strong pathway for them beating Minnesota with their existing front court, but Isaiah Hartenstein is a huge pickup for them.

I like IHart but Minnesota is going to eat OKC’s front court, if IHart is the only traditional center in the roster. He would be a great Center in a series with say the Mavs, but will struggle with Minnesota like any other center would.

[MoneyTalks41890]

This is pretty much the (realistic) worst case scenario signing by OKC, from Minnesota's perspective. Realistically, I didn't see a strong pathway for them beating Minnesota with their existing front court, but Isaiah Hartenstein is a huge pickup for them.

I like IHart but Minnesota is going to eat OKC’s front court, if IHart is the only traditional center in the roster. He would be a great Center in a series with say the Mavs, but will struggle with Minnesota like any other center would.

Flip side is they can’t guard Chet.

As a first year guy he iso-ed Gobert effectively from the perimeter. I would expect him to have more tools this year.

[Texas Chuck]

Basketball is also a team game. I mean Lively/Gafford/Kleber isn't any kind of match on paper for Gobert/Towns/Naz. Yet Dallas dispatched with Minnesota in 5.

Here is the deal with the Minny bigs--Gobert isn't abusing you directly on offense. And Towns and Naz are perimeter bigs. So this idea that they are going to be Shaq or Yao dominating you physically isn't the worry.

And OKC absolutely shouldn't be focused on Minnesota. West has too many good teams to focus on just one like that. Especially since Denver still has Jokic and Dallas beat both OKC and Minnesota just this year. And that goes without Memphis getting their guys back. LAkers may still figure something out. Maybe GSW or SAS gets Markannen, etc..

[Andre Roberstan]

The third year being unguaranteed. And the deal being front loaded.

Makes this a really good overpay IMO. Theres a chance he’s worth 27 mil at 28 years old in a league with a 170 mil cap playing 26-28mpg. Or he will be able to be traded in 12-18 months as an “expiring” if Chet does bulk a bit and you no longer need a big minute center..

Yeah, front loaded and last year NG makes this go from "he's good but yikes that's a lot of money" to being totally on board. GREAT work from the FO. I'm fully sold.

The money doesn't really matter for OKC till the 2026 offseason anyway; gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Has this been confirmed? Spotrac has this deal front loaded ($59.5mm over 2 years) but shows the 3rd year as guaranteed.

Bondy said NG. I'll ask Smitty what's up.

[Andre Roberstan]

The third year being unguaranteed. And the deal being front loaded.

Makes this a really good overpay IMO. Theres a chance he’s worth 27 mil at 28 years old in a league with a 170 mil cap playing 26-28mpg. Or he will be able to be traded in 12-18 months as an “expiring” if Chet does bulk a bit and you no longer need a big minute center..

Yeah, front loaded and last year NG makes this go from "he's good but yikes that's a lot of money" to being totally on board. GREAT work from the FO. I'm fully sold.

The money doesn't really matter for OKC till the 2026 offseason anyway; gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Has this been confirmed? Spotrac has this deal front loaded ($59.5mm over 2 years) but shows the 3rd year as guaranteed.

Yeah, it's on the details if you click through. It only has the 59.5 guaranteed; the third year isn't.

Don't know why it isn't showing up correctly though. Maybe cause right now they're just estimates?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/23644/isaiah-hartenstein/contract/summary

[jayjaysee]

Yeah, front loaded and last year NG makes this go from "he's good but yikes that's a lot of money" to being totally on board. GREAT work from the FO. I'm fully sold.

The money doesn't really matter for OKC till the 2026 offseason anyway; gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Has this been confirmed? Spotrac has this deal front loaded ($59.5mm over 2 years) but shows the 3rd year as guaranteed.

Bondy said NG. I'll ask Smitty what's up.

Spotrac seems to have it unguaranteed as well? Maybe they updated it.

See you beat me there*