The Oklahoma City need Aday Mara or Thomas Sorber to make Isaiah Hartenstein dispensable. Based on the way they went about things this summer, it's clear that the Thunder don't really want to be a second apron team. And by the time next season comes around, they're going to be facing the same second apron issues. Trading Hartenstein could be their best way to avoid those problems.
But the only way for them to feel comfortable trading Hartenstein would be if one of their young centers actually blossoms into a legitimate rotation piece. Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams are solid one-two-punch, but Hartenstein is integral to the Thunder's success. They need Mara or Sober to turn into something at least close to that.
If Mara and Sorber fail to develop, then the Thunder are going to be forced to look elsewhere to solve their second apron problems. That could mean getting rid of Alex Caruso or Cason Wallace. That's no good.
Thunder could want Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber to make Isaiah Hartenstein dispensable
Ever since he joined the Thunder after leaving the New York Knicks in free agency, Hartenstein has been one of the most important pieces in OKC. Without him, they probably wouldn't be nearly as successful.
Hartenstein’s impact on the defensive end and on the glass has been a perfect complementary skill set next to Holmgren, who thrives more as an off-ball defensive player.
Since OKC has had Hartenstein to guard opposing teams' best big men and bang down low, Holmgren hasn't had to deal with that sort of load, and that's been ideal.
However, even after the Thunder renegotiated Hartenstein's contract, he's going to be making a ton of money. And for a team that has a ton of players making a ton of money, that's a tough situation.
The second apron is a brutal mistress. No teams around the league want to deal with the second apron penalties, and we saw that this summer.
The Thunder traded Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe in separate trades, all with the goal of getting under the second apron. But unfortunately, with contract extensions looming, the Thunder are going to have to deal with that situation all over again.
So, as the Thunder eventually look for different ways to get under the second apron, Hartenstein’s name will inevitably come up again. And the only way that the Thunder could feel comfortable letting him go in a trade would be if Mara or Sorber take a big enough leap.
And they need that to happen. Because that would mean they could keep Wallace and Caruso, who are too important to lose.
So is Hartenstein, but at least they have a potential contingency plan in the works with Mara and Sorber.
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