Since signing with the OKC Thunder back in the summer of 2024, Isaiah Hartenstein has been nothing short of tremendous while serving as their franchise pivot.
With his rock-wall screen setting, menacing two-way interior presence, and highly underrated passing skills, the veteran big man has quickly established himself as the ideal fit at center for the ball club.
Unfortunately, with Oklahoma City's salary cap table already difficult to manage, it has long been presumed that his $28.5 million option for the 2026-27 season will serve as a fiscal sacrificial lamb of sorts and be declined to help Sam Presti and company duck under the second apron.
Though some have offered slivers of hope that other routes could be taken, a recent mock draft suggests the most likely course of action is that the third year of I-Hart's deal will ultimately be opted out of.
Thunder select Washington big Hannes Steinbach in ESPN mock draft
Jeremy Woo of ESPN recently pushed out his latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, where, with the rights to the LA Clippers' pick, the Thunder were seen selecting Hannes Steinbach 15 overall.
Here in his freshman season with Washington, the German-born baller has established himself as an all-out bruiser on the floor. Through 28 games played, Steinbach is posting impressive averages of 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds (second-highest mark in the nation), 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 58.6 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from deep, albeit on 45 total attempts.
At 6-foot-11, the 19-year-old certainly has a desired height for an NBA big, though his roughly 220-pound frame still leaves room for growth in the width and strength department.
Overall, however, he's an incredibly intriguing project who has shown flashes of developing into an inside-out offensive weapon, a ferocious board gobbler, and, at times, a dependable defender. In the middle of the first round, any team in need of bolstering its frontcourt depth would be foolish not to consider Steinbach.
Of course, in this instance, Oklahoma City is the one seen snatching him up, and their reserves behind Hartenstein at the five already consist of guys like Jaylin Williams and Thomas Sorber.
The former is unknowingly setting the groundwork to become the go-to replacement as OKC's starting center should Hartenstein depart, while the latter is the 15 overall pick from last summer's draft, who's amid an injury-induced, redshirt rookie season (torn ACL).
At this point in time, there's still no real indication that I-Hart's contract will even be opted out of this offseason, and, even if it is, the Thunder seem well-equipped to replace him as is.
Still, Woo believes that if Steinbach's still available when Oklahoma City is on the clock, they should strongly consider adding him to their collection.
With this in mind, if such a decision were to be made, it would almost certainly lead to Hartenstein's ouster.