Early signs show Isaiah Hartenstein is primed for a peculiar role in Thunder offense

The OKC Thunder undoubtedly had one of the best offenses in the NBA last season, and it seemed they could not get much better on that side of the ball.

This was proven false when General Manager Sam Presti traded away former lottery pick Josh Giddey for one of the best 3-and-D players in the league in Alex Caruso this past June.

Many thought this left no holes for the Thunder, but there was still one that recently acquired big man Isaiah Hartenstein will plug that could ultimately unlock this team's full potential. 

When the club signed the former Knicks center, the thought was that he was brought on the team to help with rebounds and interior defense. This was one of the core reasons the Thunder fell to the Mavericks 4-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals.

However, the journeyman could prove he has more value than just that of a defensive threat, and, instead, allow more lanes to open up on the offensive side of the ball, and it's already showing in the preseason. 

Isaiah Hartenstein could be big part of OKC Thunder offense

Take Hartenstein's assist numbers for an example. Last year he averaged 3.5 assists for New York while averaging 25.3 minutes a game and starting only half the season.

This may seem like a small number, but in the Knicks offensive scheme, things revolved around Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. You would not see Hartenstein passing the ball to them on cuts but, instead, setting hard screens to allow his teammates an open lane to the rim.

This was something the Thunder have been missing since Steven Adams -- a screener who can allow a whole new world of offense to open up. 

Even coach Mark Daigneault acknowledges the value the new Thunder center brings with his screening ability. When asked by Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire on what Hartenstein brings in the pick and roll, Daigneault replied:

“He's an elite screener that can really scrape defenders off of the ball. You know he's got a great physical presence, he's obviously strong. His mind is equally as good, he has a very good understanding of the nuance of the pick and roll at this point. He has an understanding of who he is playing with, how they are being defended on an individual possession, and how to create an advantage.” 

The screens by the big man have been shown in full effect during the preseason. Many possessions while Isaiah Hartenstein is on the court usually result in some form of screen by him.

The majority of the time you are seeing it with Jalen Williams, who is one of the more explosive players in the league.

J-Dub makes a living by attacking the rim and finishing through tough contact, but now with the addition of Hartenstein, his production should increase.

Take the 112-107 win against the San Antonio Spurs as an example. There were a handful of possessions where Williams would call for a screen by the big man, which would lead to an easy two points for either Dub or I-Hart.

It does not end with Jalen Williams, though, as these types of plays would happen with Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and even fellow big man Chet Holmgren.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for Hartenstein's offensive game. 

During the 2022-2023 season, the center had a true shooting percentage of 56.7 percent. The next season when he saw his role and minutes increased, that number jumped significantly to 67 percent.

This statistical bump would help the Knicks win more games in the 2023-2024 season, although it was not a large increase.

Another advanced statistic that increased for Hartenstein was his usage rate, which saw a jump from 11.5 percent to 12.9 percent. This stat shows the impact Hartenstein truly has on an offense, as he was one of the key contributors for that Knicks team.

Due to it being preseason, his usage rate has not been calculated. That said, Thunder fans can expect to see his usage rate even higher than last year, especially with scorers all over this team like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. 

The last part of the center's game that can fully tap into the team's potential is his shooting ability.

Hartenstein has told the media that Mark Daigneault has given him the “green light” to take more 3-pointers. He did not mention any specific goals, but, instead, has focused his attention on making the winning plays.

The big man has never been known for his shooting ability, but with OKC being the best perimeter shooting team, and having shot guru Chip Engelland on his side, you can expect him to knock down those long-range shots at a far more frequent clip.

Do not expect him to be shooting an obscene number of attempts from beyond the arc in 2024-25, but the idea of him taking around two three balls a game isn't all that far-fetched.

There will be nights he does not connect, but then there will be nights he hits them all. He has already taken a 3-pointer this preseason, and, in fact, did not hesitate to do so when he saw the opportunity. 

Having a shooter on the court at all times is what makes the Thunder dangerous this season. No longer will you see teams sag off on players like the Mavericks did with Josh Giddey in the playoffs.

This allows more cutting lanes and driving opportunities for the Thunder now.

And while we've mentioned Hartenstein's shot, playmaking, and screening as being in the conversation for his most beneficial trait on offense, arguably his most noteworthy and overall refined is his offensive rebounding skills.

Last year the only true big man on the Thunder was Chet Holmgren, and even then he was not the most-ideal second-chance opportunity grabber.

Now with the veteran product down low, who is 7-foot, 255 pounds, second-chance buckets should be seen more often.

Last season Hartenstein averaged 3.3 offensive boards and averaged a total of 8.4 per night. This shows he is not afraid of the dirty work in the paint.

Having a true interior threat allows a more open floor, allowing the Thunder to take more 3-pointers and mid-range jumpers. 

Simply put, the options are limitless for Oklahoma City this season while Isaiah Hartenstein is on the court.

With the weapons surrounding him, he could easily average a double-double on this Thunder squad. Ultimately, what he brings to the table on offense may be the reason this team can win the NBA Finals this season.