One of the reasons Isaiah Hartenstein chose Oklahoma City was the opportunity to “greatly expand my game” — specifically, to showcase an offensive skill set that the Knicks didn’t encourage, he said Saturday.
“As an NBA player, you have to adapt to a specific role and that’s what I did in New York,” Hartenstein told reporters after officially signing his big-money contract with the Thunder. “My passing only got better last year. Year one, I had to adapt to a specific role. So I feel like I can get back to shooting. I used to shoot, and I want to be able to shoot more.”
In his first season with the Knicks in 2022-23, Hartenstein did not hide his difficulty adapting to the limited offensive role of a center in Tom Thibodeau’s system, which was primarily predicated on screens and rebounding. The situation was different in his previous season with the Clippers, where Hartenstein made occasional three-pointers at a high percentage and racked up high points and assists per minute. As Hartenstein noted, he had more opportunities to hold the ball last season, but the 26-year-old believes Thunder head coach Mark Deinyort can help him improve his game.
“I’ve been in a lot of situations, I know how to adapt,” he said, “but the way they play here is really exciting for me and it’s going to really expand my game, especially offensively.”
Of course, another big factor is money. The Knicks capped out a four-year, $72.5 million offer, which they held off on until Hartenstein signed with another team. The Thunder gave Hartenstein a three-year, $87 million contract, with a team option for the final season, as the Post reported. The guarantees are two years and about $58 million, or an average salary about $11 million higher than the Knicks’ offer.
It was a tough decision for Hartenstein, who was guaranteed a starting spot in New York and had good chemistry with his teammates. His role in Oklahoma City has not been determined. “We don’t make minutes promises. We don’t make role promises. We make promises about the environment,” team president Sam Presti said Saturday. But no such financial commitments are made without a plan for playing time.
OKC won 57 games last season, the best in the West, and big signings this summer have opened up a huge opportunity for them to win the championship.
“I was in a position where I loved my teammates in New York and I really appreciate what Tivoli and Leon did for me,” he said. [Rose, Knicks president,] “It’s been great what my teammates have done for me. The fans in New York have shown me a lot of love,” he said. “But it’s really exciting to be in this situation. I’ve always seen from afar what the culture of this team is. The style of play really suits me. I’m a high IQ player. There are a lot of guys who cut. I think I’m one of the best passers in the NBA. And the culture is very family-like. It’s really exciting for me. I feel like I can expand my game.”
With the loss of Hartenstein, the Knicks are in a tough spot as the market for a center replacement shrinks. The logical place to start for Thibodeau would be Mitchell Robinson, who is injury-prone but was an All-Defensive selection last season before undergoing ankle surgery. The Knicks could also use their Bird Rights to re-sign Precious Achiuwa, but sources say Thibodeau would prefer to use him at power forward rather than center.
Center Jericho Sims and second-round draft pick Ariel Hukporti are also on the roster, and league executives are skeptical the Knicks, who burned through assets in the Mikal Bridges trade, can get a deal done for Utah center Walker Kessler.
Charlotte’s Nick Richards has also been rumored to be a trade target. The remaining free-agent centers include Daniel Theis, Cody Zeller, Tristan Thompson, Mike Muscala, Omer Yurtseven and Taj Gibson.
Hartenstein, meanwhile, has officially joined the Thunder and is looking forward to an “expanded” role on offense.
“You have to acknowledge the fact that Isaiah was coming from a great situation,” Presti said of pitching him to his players. “The worst thing you can do is jump into a situation and try to demean where a guy is playing right now. I think you have to respect how difficult a decision like that is for a player and show a lot of respect for that, especially when you’re having success both individually and as a team. You can always do your best.”
“I think it’s more important to think about your team’s future rather than thinking about the other team’s past and what that might look like. Part of it is the belief that he’s only 26 and that we can put him in a situation where he can continue to develop and develop his strengths and what he’s good at. But it’s a really tough decision for a free agent. … Luckily for us, I think he was able to understand some of the things we were talking about.”
Jalen Brunson is eligible to sign a contract extension on Friday and if he signs (something one source said he definitely considered during the season), he would stand to lose a significant amount of money.
Brunson can sign a maximum four-year, $156.5 million extension this summer, or wait until he becomes a free agent in 2025, when he’ll be eligible for a new five-year contract with the Knicks worth about $260 million to $270 million.
Perhaps relevant to this conversation is Brunson’s reaction to OG Anunoby signing a five-year, $212 million contract, the point guard was stunned by the amount.
“I said,Fuck“What … $212 million?” Branson said on his podcast, “The Roommates Show.”
Whether Anunoby signing this deal makes it more or less likely that Brunson will agree to an extension is up to me, I don’t know, but as the best player on the team, Brunson will likely be much lower than Anunoby in terms of annual salary and overall salary.
But by signing this summer, Brunson would be eligible for a second max extension sooner, potentially earning him more money in the long run. Whether Brunson signs this summer or next year, there’s no question he loves playing for the Knicks and has every reason to do so. He’s surrounded by friends and family, and every day is like a college reunion.
The Knicks aren’t shying away from their mission, which is a refreshing attitude after years of rebuilding and setting low standards.
“We’re all chasing Boston. We have to chase them,” Brunson said. “They won at an elite level of play, so we’ve got to figure out how to beat them, even though we’re not on the court right now. That’s in the hands of the front office, and then it’s in our hands when the season starts.”
