As expected, the Thunder, in need of a center, are making a move to acquire Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.
NBA source Shams Charania reports Oklahoma City will meet with the 7-foot-tall player on Sunday night in Eugene, Oregon.
The Knicks want to keep Hartenstein, but they can only offer him a four-year, $72.5 million contract.
Hartenstein finished the year averaging career-highs in rebounds (8.3), minutes per game (25.3) and steals (1.2) and emerged as the Knicks’ starting center in the second half of the season.
He enjoyed his two years in New York, but the Knicks can’t afford to pay him as much as other teams like the Thunder or Magic.
Follow all the latest NBA free agency news, including signings, trades, rumors and more.
It is believed Hartenstein could make as much as $23 million per season.
Oklahoma City is viewed as a rising team and will be looking to improve their situation under center.
With that in mind, Hartenstein seems like a perfect fit.
In a weak center market, the 26-year-old Hartenstein is a valuable asset and a strong two-way player.
He’s bounced around the league with the Rockets, Nuggets and Cavaliers before emerging with the Knicks.
Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks would obviously like to keep him.
But that may be out of their control.
