Thunder Address Interior Depth with Isaiah Hartenstein Signing
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished last season with an impressive 57-25 record to secure the top spot in the Western Conference, faced a glaring weakness in their interior depth during the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks. However, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Thunder have addressed this issue by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to a lucrative three-year, $87 million contract.
Last Season’s Success and Playoff Shortcomings
Under the leadership of the “New Big Three”—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams—the Thunder had a standout season. They topped the Western Conference with a 57-25 record but fell short in the Western Conference Semifinals, losing 2-4 to the Mavericks. This series highlighted the team’s lack of depth in the paint.
The Hartenstein Signing
Charania reports that the Thunder’s management traveled to Hartenstein’s home in Oregon to persuade him to join the team. Despite initially wanting to stay with the New York Knicks, Hartenstein was swayed by the Thunder’s offer. The Knicks were unable to match the Thunder’s bid due to their commitment of a five-year, $212 million contract to OG Anunoby, leaving no cap space for Hartenstein.
Isaiah Hartenstein Career Stats:
| Season | Team | Points per Game | Rebounds per Game | Assists per Game | Steals per Game | Blocks per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Knicks | 7.8 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
Thunder’s Active Offseason Moves
This offseason, the Thunder have been proactive in strengthening their roster. Notable moves include trading Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso and re-signing key players Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins with four-year, $48 million and five-year, $47 million contracts, respectively.
Future Prospects
Despite the significant investment in Hartenstein, the Thunder still have a full Mid-Level Exception available. This allows them to remain active in the market, seeking additional talent to further bolster their roster for the upcoming season.
The Thunder’s strategic moves and strong signings position them well for another competitive season as they aim to build on last year’s success and address the weaknesses that were exposed in the playoffs.(747Live)
