The OKC Thunder achieved their ultimate goal in 2024-25, and as a result, they're about to get much more expensive.
It's hard to complain about anything involving the Oklahoma City Thunder right now.
The team just won a title for the first time since moving to Oklahoma City, and boast one of the best young cores in the entire league. After winning the ring, the team was able to lock up three of those members of the core, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, to long-term deals worth a combined $822 million.
While the "Big Three" are locked up for the foreseeable future, it's hard to say any of the remaining pieces will for sure be in town for the long haul. That includes center Isaiah Hartenstein, who was just added on a three-year, $87 million deal last offseason.
The first two years of Hartenstein's contract are fully guaranteed, but the third year is a club option. It's hard to imagine the team picking up that option considering the vast amount of money committed to the star players.
As a result, Mark Nilon of Thunderous Intentions believes the 2025-26 season will be Hartenstein's last with the club. Nilon offered the following analysis regarding Hartenstein:
In turn, these slew of moves seemingly make I-Hart a lame duck center.
As things currently stand, the Thunder's projected payroll for 2026-27 is at $254,784,525, nearly $50 million over the second apron threshold. Hartenstein alone will be the fourth-largest payday on the team should he stay for his third year of the deal at a worth of $28.5 million.
Now, with the selection of Thomas Sorber in this past June's draft and the re-signing of Branden Carlson to a second consecutive two-way deal, the writing appears to already be on the wall that 2025-26 will be the big man's last with the Thunder.
As Nilon mentioned, it just seems impractical to keep Hartenstein around after next season. Additionally, the team drafted Georgetown big man Thomas Sorber in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, perhaps future-proofing the position.
The team also re-signed seven-footer Branden Carlson this offseason, who provides another option at the five spot. Jaylin Williams and Ousmane Dieng are also still around, and could factor into the future of the position as well.
In 2024-25, Hartenstein played in 57 regular season games and averaged 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. The veteran formed a vaunted one-two punch with Holmgren and was a big reason why the Thunder dominated on the glass.
While 2025-26 may be Hartenstein's final season in OKC, it should be a special one. The Thunder are trying to repeat as champs, and if they do, Hartenstein will undoubtedly play a large role again.
Category: Basketball
