Thunder played key role in creating East contender's main flaw heading into 2024-25

This summer, the OKC Thunder addressed arguably their most glaring rotational weakness from last season in frontcourt size and physicality with the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.

Following a career campaign in 2023-24, one where he dropped impressive per-game averages of 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 64.4 percent shooting from the floor, the 26-year-old center came into the offseason viewed as arguably the most highly-touted big available on the open market.

Though there were many organizations who were reported as being interested in bringing on the likes of Hartenstein, by way of a lofty $87 million offseason Oklahoma City managed to win the sweapstakes early and, ultimately, effortlessly.

However, in doing so, the Thunder simultaneously aided in creating one of the biggest reasons why his former employer, the New York Knicks could look back upon the 2024 offseason with disdain.

Thunder signing Isaiah Hartenstein could cause Knicks to 'hate' offseason

In a recent piece penned by Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, all 30 teams in the NBA were appointed one particular reason why they could both "love" and "hate" how their offseason played out.

For New York, though they are widely viewed as having taken part in one of the most successful summers this year, the negative result of their reshuffling that falls into the latter camp is their "paper-thin" depth that now resides at the center spot following Hartenstein's signing with the Thunder.

"...the Knicks could have tinkered a little more over the summer to add some reliable depth behind oft-injured starter Mitchell Robinson. He's currently the only rotation-worthy conventional center on the team," Hughes wrote.

Hartenstein played a major role on the Knicks last season, especially when oft-injured Mitchell Robinson once again succumbed to health-related ailments and was forced to 51 games on the year.

As a result, the veteran stepped into the primary pivot role and dropped 8.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks through 49 starts.

He would continue to serve as the first five's main rotational big during their highly entertaining two-round playoff excursion, proving himself capable of successfully matching up against established stars and more heavily buzzed-about talents like Joel Embiid and Myles Turner.

Now, with his exit from the Big Apple and arrival out in Loud City, a major rotational question mark regarding the depth down at center has only managed to grow more daunting.

As things currently stand, the Knicks have the injury-plagued Robinson as their projected starter, the severely limited and, frankly, somewhat undersized Precious Achiuwa (measures in at just 6-foot-8) next in command, and then the athletic albeit raw youngster Jericho Sims as their third option to man the middle.

Considering they are viewed as a legitimate title contender heading into 2024-25, this instability at center is far from ideal and could easily lead to their downfall should one or two of their dominoes fall (based on history, this is not a far-fetched hypothetical).