NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne recently stated that the Oklahoma City Thunder “ended up prioritizing” Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency over a specific perennial All-Star and NBA Champion.NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne recently stated that the Oklahoma City Thunder “ended up prioritizing” Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency over a specific perennial All-Star and NBA Champion.
This summer, on day two of the league-wide festivities, the OKC Thunder signed long-rumored, top-billed free agent target Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million contract.
With this acquisition, Sam Presti and crew have strengthened their previously depleted frontcourt rotation and big man collection, as well as acquired a strong, durable 7-foot-1, 249-pound presence to pair down low with their already existing 7-foot-1 center, Chet Holmgren.
Interestingly, while the consensus opinion and overall feel for Oklahoma City’s decision-making this far into the offseason is undeniably positive, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the front office was interested in focusing their attention on Klay Thompson, one of the biggest free agents this summer.
Thunder passed on Klay Thompson in pursuit of Isaiah Hartenstein
According to the NBA Insider, the Thunder “were interested in Thompson” after he decided to leave the Golden State Warriors, but ultimately “ended up prioritizing big man Isaiah Hartenstein with their cap space.”
Six weeks ago Warriors owner Joe Lacob invited Klay Thompson to play a round of golf at Riviera. This would’ve been the time to work things out. Instead, there was nothing left to say. The marriage was already over. Story w/ @kendra__andrews https://t.co/GOMbMTBOmv
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 3, 2024
What makes this report even more fascinating is the fact that before he reached an agreement to sign with the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal, Shelburne noted in her piece that the wing “was intrigued by the young Oklahoma City Thunder,” suggesting that, in theory, there was a chance they could have beaten out Dallas in a hypothetical pursuit, especially since they had the fifth-highest spending power in the entire league ($35.3 million) before the
Though a report like this is entertaining to read because it demonstrates that players of all levels across the league see the Thunder as a desirable destination, it also opens the door to negative narratives, particularly regarding their decision to pursue Hartenstein over Thompson.
While some may question Presti’s decision to spend $37 million more in total, and around $13 million more per year, on an arguable role player rather than adding a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA Champion, it is important to remember the team’s situation outside of these two players.
Oklahoma City already has a true superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as well as two rising young players, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, leading the way.
Around them are impressive and high-upside complementing role players, including Alex Caruso, one of the game’s greatest 3-and-D wings, who was traded to the Chicago Bulls late last month.
Caruso is far from the player Thompson has shown to be, but with his signing, the Thunder have already addressed their need to bring in more competent outside shooting threats who can also perform on the less glamorous side of the ball.
The next item on their to-do list was to finally address their frontcourt armament, which lacked size and rebounding ability (ranked 27 in boards per game previous year).
Without a doubt, Hartenstein (who pulled down 16.6 boards per 100 possessions last season) addresses these areas of need down low, and, regardless of how unappealing it may sound on the surface, Presti and co. made the correct decision to pass on Thompson in their pursuit of the 26-year-old big in free agency.
