The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $75 million extension this offseason that looks like the best contract of the summer. The Athletic’s John Hollinger rated Hartenstein as worth $32.0 million next season (subscription required). That undersells his value to the Thunder. Hartenstein proved crucial against the Spurs in the conference finals, and OKC got him to take a pay cut to help alleviate their second apron issues.
The seven-footer averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.8 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game last season. He doesn’t stretch the floor, but Hartenstein takes pressure off Chet Holmgren. The duo proved necessary in trying to stop Victor Wembanyama. Hartenstein took on the matchup with Chet roaming as a weak-side rim protector.
There was talk about trading I-Hart to save money, but the playoffs made that decision easy. It forced Presti to pull off his magic. The big man had a $28.5 million team option for next season. OKC declined that and got Hartenstein to sign for less. That was a massive win for the Thunder.
Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein to arguably the best deal of the offseason
Every team is searching for a big man. The Lakers gave up two first-round draft picks and two first-round swaps to land Walker Kessler. They had to give him a four-year, $130 million contract on top of the trade price. Kessler is a quality starter, but not a star. He is now making $32.5 million per year in LA.
Hartenstein is the better player and is making considerably less. The Thunder convinced Isaiah Hartenstein to sign for an absolute steal. An Eastern Conference executive said the following about his new deal.
"I haven't seen it talked about at all, but what the Thunder got [Isaiah] Hartenstein for might be one of the deals of summer."
He wanted to stay with the Thunder and was willing to take a discount. OKC dumped Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to save money. They are still over the second apron, and Presti has to sort out the Lu Dort and Cason Wallace dilemma this season.
The Thunder are the best organization in the NBA. They are elite at finding talent in the draft, improving their roster on the margins, and getting creative to retain talent. Hartenstein wasn’t going anywhere. OKC had a plan to convince him to take less, and it worked beautifully. Now, they have one of the 12 best centers in the NBA making as much as Nicolas Claxton and Naz Reid.
Sam Presti did it again. He is the master of building a roster and making the best move of the summer. Whether it was trading Paul George for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a mountain of draft capital or finding Lu Dort as an undrafted free agent, the Thunder are always winning by making the right moves. That is what makes them elite.
Isaiah Hartenstein may not play his entire contract on the Thunder. SGA gets a $20 million raise in the 2027-28 season, and the franchise has to sign Dort or Cason Wallace to a new contract. OKC drafted Aday Mara to be I-Hart’s replacement. This new contract will ensure Presti gets multiple draft picks in a Hartenstein trade and allows the Thunder to keep building.
The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off another gem. Credit to Sam Presti and the front office. It is moves like re-signing Isaiah Hartenstein on a bargain that will keep the franchise competitive for years to come. They just keep winning.
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