On Sunday night, news broke that the OKC Thunder were sending veteran guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two future second-round picks. The move was sudden, albeit not too surprising, as general manager Sam Presti attempts to get his team under the second apron before next season.
The biggest winner of the deal, however, may not even be one of the two teams involved, but rather a player whose fate was inadvertently determined by the transaction.
Big man Isaiah Hartenstein's path to staying in Oklahoma City is becoming clearer by the day, and Wiggin's departure is only solidifying that notion.
At the start of the offseason, arguably the biggest questions coming out of Thunder camp revolved around the numerous team options the Thunder had coming up. Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams were among those. Many questioned how Presti would be able to bring any of these players back, given the financial tightrope he is walking.
It's clear now that, with the first roadblock out of the way, Presti is going to attempt to keep Hartenstein around for the foreseeable future.
Hartenstein's situation is unique to other Thunder members in question
Of all Thunder players questionable to return next season, Hartenstein easily separated himself as the only one whose skillset cannot be replicated.
He was the only one who proved capable of defending Spurs center Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference Finals, and he has contributed in tandem with Chet Holmgren to allow the fewest points per game in the paint over the last two years.
With these factors in mind, OKC seemingly has no choice but to clear space in the budget to keep him around.
Especially given recent noise surrounding a potential sign-and-trade of Lu Dort, Hart seems like the only piece in question to be deemed essential.
Next up on the trade block is likely Isaiah Joe, who commanded an even higher salary than Wiggins while also wasting away on the bench. Clearing out the two salaries would mark a huge step in retaining Hart and maintaining the team's interior prowess for at least another season.
Wiggins goes to a young Hawks team, in which he will likely have a golden opportunity to earn more minutes than he did in OKC. Atlanta's roster features a number of athletic, talented players capable of playing the same fluid style of basketball that Thunder fans have grown acustomed to seeing out of the five-year vet.
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