The OKC Thunder need to decline the final year of Isaiah Hartenstein's current three-year, $87 million deal -- but not for the reasons such a statement may inherently suggest.
Throughout his two seasons in the Sooner State, the big man has established himself as a tremendous frontcourt fixture for the organization.
Boasting averages of 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and just shy of a block per game on 59.7 percent shooting from the floor, and playing a major role in securing the club's first Larry O'Brien Trophy during the 2024-25 campaign, I-Hart is already unequivocally solidified as a natural fit and a high-end producer within this Thunder team's rotation.
It is because of this that Sam Presti and company should be hell-bent on turning down the 2026-27 season of his current deal this offseason and, in turn, re-upping with his services on a new, multi-year pact that, if possible, is more team-friendly.
Thunder must decline Isaiah Hartenstein's final year... then re-sign him
As things currently stand, the Thunder are projected to have the highest payroll in the entire association next season at over $250 million.
Of course, no one expects them to actually pay such coin, largely because they have a number of players with salaries under club options that they could effortlessly part ways with.
Hartenstein, in particular, will be paid a whopping $28.5 million next season alone if things stay the way they are.
Simply by declining this pay-day, OKC would automatically duck below the dreaded second-apron threshold.
Of course, this shouldn't mean that his tenure with the Thunder should then come to an end.
Whether it be through trading guys like Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, or moving on from higher-priced talents such as Lu Dort, Oklahoma City should be experimenting with every way imaginable to not only guarantee a roster spot for the veteran center next season, but to secure enough cap space to restructure his pact with the franchise.
Fortunately, all reports seem to indicate that retaining Hartenstein is, in fact, a major priority for Sam Presti this summer, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently revealing that there's "a strong anticipation among team and league sources that Hartenstein will be back in Oklahoma City next season."
Frankly, considering how their ill-fated series against the San Antonio Spurs played out, it's easy to see why holding onto the 28-year-old is viewed as a major goal for the dynasty-pushing Thunder.
Ironically, declining his final year under contract may be the only logical way of accomplishing said goal.
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