The most important Thunder player is not SGA, Chet, or J-Dub

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. These are the names that are synonymous with OKC Thunder basketball and who will likely be at the forefront of all conversations relating to the franchise.

However, despite their high-end and buzz-worthy statuses, none are the most important piece to thrust the club over the hump toward an NBA Championship.

That job belongs to Isaiah Hartenstein.

Isaiah Hartenstein is the most important Thunder player in 2024-25

Following a career-best campaign with the New York Knicks where he dropped 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 64.4 percent shooting from deep and served as the team's primary pivot during their deep and mighty exciting playoff run, Hartenstein came into the offseason as arguably the most highly sought-after center available on the open market.

While many teams were reported to have been vying for his services, in the end, the Thunder ended up winning the sweepstakes on day two of free agency, as they inked the 26-year-old to a lucrative $80 million deal.

Now, to some, the idea of shelling out such coin to a career role player may be seen as a bit much. However, what Hartenstein could end up bringing to Mark Daigneault's squad could prove to be worth far more than his new $29 million annual salary.

Arguably the biggest weakness found within OKC's rotation last year resided within their frontcourt, particularly when it came to their lack of size and physicality down in the paint.

By year's end, the Thunder rostered just four players who measured in at above 6-foot-8, with their tallest talent being Holmgren who, though stands at a menacing 7-foot-1, weighs in at an astonishingly light 208 pounds.

Their lack of vertical threats and overall strength down low proved to be quite a disadvantage, especially during their second-round bout against the more physically dominating Mavericks.

In their six-game demise to Dallas, the Thunder were severely outmuscled on the boards, especially on the offensive end where they pulled down 57 rebounds compared to 73, and, ultimately, were outscored in the second-chance department 97 to 68.

Automatically, Hartenstein's addition provides the team with much-needed size and interior intimidation improvements, as he measures in at 7-feet, 249 pounds, and, over the last two seasons, has sported an 18.3 rebound percentage.

On top of all this, another attribute that's believed to be sorely lacking within the Thunder's arsenal is in the play-making department, especially with the recent departure of top set-up artist, Josh Giddey this offseason.

Not only will Hartenstein be of service in the brute-force and nitty-gritty aspects of the game, but he's also capable of and more than confident in his abilities to set up his teammates on the offensive end, as he's gone as far as to label himself "one of the best passers in the NBA," which, while on the surface may seem bold, based on the advanced metrics (6.4 assists per 100 possessions in 2021-22 and 5.0 in 2023-24) and the eye-test, there appears to be some serious merit to his remarks.

The only fear fans may have heading into 2024-25 is whether Hartenstein and Holmgren will be able to coexist in the starting lineup together, for both are natural centers, though one of the two (likely the latter) will end up sliding up in the lineup to man the four.

Fortunately, confidence in their ability to flourish alongside one another appears rather high, so, while a definitive answer about their fit alongside one another won't come about until the tandem finally hits the hardwood together, this should be a back-burner query for the time being.

Frankly, two of the main contributors toward Oklahoma City's second-round downfall in lacking paint presence and secondary playmaking seem to be things that Hartenstein's arrival.

Because of this, though Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams are undeniably the superior players in comparison, there's a strong case to be made that their new splahy free agency signing could be the missing piece in their long-desired championship run.