OKC Thunder to meet with free agent Isaiah Hartenstein

The Oklahoma City Thunder will fly to Oregon to meet with Isaiah Hartenstein in a free agent meeting, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

He described it as an aggressive pitch from OKC. Hartenstein is a great fit for OKC at the backup center position. He could improve his size and rebounding issues.

Hartenstein had a breakout year last season with the New York Knicks. He took over the starting center spot for them once Mitchell Robinson went down and started 49 of 75 games.

The 26-year-old averaged 7.8 points on 64.4 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks. He was a starter during their playoff run.

The Thunder have $30 million in cap space to spend this offseason. They will likely sign Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to extensions. OKC declined the duo’s cheap options for next season.

If the Thunder add Hartenstein, it will likely be a short-term deal. The Thunder need to clear cap space in two years once Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams’ impending extensions take effect.

As Orlando teams focus on wing free agents and Utah focuses on current roster decisions, and the Knicks work to dismantle the hard cap, sources say the OKC Thunder are in Eugene, Oregon, ready to meet with Isaiah Hartenstein.

More information now: https://t.co/UzzmWYRXTM

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2024