Isaiah Hartenstein worth every penny for the OKC Thunder

When Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year pact with the OKC Thunder worth $87 million, there were mixed reviews. On one side, Sam Presti made a splash and immediately addressed the team’s biggest weakness from a year ago with a big body now in the fold. On the other hand, there were cries of overpayment from the basketball universe after Hartenstein chose Oklahoma City over New York.

However, it only took ten games for the seven-footer to prove that he is worth every penny. It also requires a bit of context and common sense — something that isn’t too high on the priority list for the majority of the NBA ecosystem.

Oklahoma City had spent it or lost it money this summer. They’ve also had trouble finding free agents, with the former Knick representing the biggest signing in club history. Sure, they had to throw a few more dollars at the 26-year-old than he might have been worth on a spreadsheet, but the alternative is to keep the money and the roster hole. This deal does not prevent the Thunder from coloring its existing core, which is the most important factor.

It must also be taken into account that Hartenstein is a rare player. Sure, he never made an all-star team or headlines, but there are only a handful of centers that match the Thunder’s identity. Of the short list of bigs, Oklahoma City has two in Chet Holmgren and its big free agent.

Hartenstein isn’t just a seven-foot, 255-pounder who brings bruising to an otherwise small roster. Anyone could have done it. He is the rare player made in a lab for a Mark Daigneault team on both ends.

His ability to switch defensively, combined with his playmaking on offense makes him a Thunder player first and a quick fix down the line second. Oklahoma City General Manager Sam Presti said it best, Oklahoma City would have pursued Hartenstein even though his frame only spanned 6-foot-7.

He just happens to be the perfect fit. A special set of circumstances led to Hartenstein becoming the second highest paid player in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City sits with a 20-5 record and the best record in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season.

The Thunder have done it while battling adversity. Won’t get to unwrap his free agent gift until Game 16 after a preseason injury. Losing Holmgren for a large part of the regular season in game ten, with a bit of injuries mixed in as well as important rotation pieces.

Since Hartenstein’s return, he has proven to be the missing piece. Of course, right now you have to close your eyes and imagine what he looks like with a fully healthy group – but that’s easy to do with his production to date.

He is averaging 12.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 shares per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor.

His screen-setting ability makes life easier for Oklahoma City scorers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. He not only solves the size problems with his ability to clean the glass, but also solves the secondary table setting problems from a year ago.

Hartenstein is a high-level rim protector, passer, rim handler and screener who helps tie together Oklahoma City’s current group and has led to a 9-1 record with him in the fold. Holmgren had exactly the same character in the first ten games of the year.

The fallout from losing Holmgren won’t be felt in the Thunder’s regular season record, and the playoff ceiling is raised in a massive way when the Gonzaga product is back in the fold. That’s the type of supplemental move required to win a championship, and Hartenstein’s three-year, $87 Million move pushes Oklahoma City closer to that goal.

Song of the day: Money by Pink Floyd

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