Isaiah Hartenstein, a fan favorite of the New York Knicks for his effort and prowess in the paint, will not play his home games at Madison Square Garden next season.
Hartenstein has reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year, $87 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, joining last season's No. 1 Western Conference team in need of more size and physicality.
In doing so, Hartenstein reportedly rejected the Knicks' offer, which could not exceed four years and $72.5 million, according to The New York Post. That offer came to Hartenstein “as soon as the NBA Finals ended.”
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Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the New York Knicks boxes out during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, Round 1, on April 15, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Thunder's offer is reportedly up front, meaning Hartenstein will make more than $30 million next season to play in Oklahoma City. That's about $5 million more than Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson will make next season, though he could also receive an extension.
However, Hartenstein reportedly would have received around $16 million in the first year of his contract with the Knicks had he signed the deal.
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Hartenstein's role with the Thunder will be interesting to watch, given the presence of Chet Holmgren, who plays center for the playoff-contending team. But general manager Sam Presti, who previously traded with the Chicago Bulls for veteran Alex Caruso, knows the team needs rebounding and that was Hartenstein's bread and butter in New York for head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Hartenstein, a second-round pick of the Houston Rockets in the 2017 NBA draft, pulled down a career-high 8.3 rebounds per game for the Knicks last season. That production can be attributed to Hartenstein having to increase his playing time due to Mitchell Robinson being injured for most of the regular season.
Josh Hart #3 and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the New York Knicks react during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in game two of the Eastern Conference second round playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 8, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Hartenstein started 49 of his 75 regular-season games last season; his career-high before that was eight starts for the Knicks during the 2022-23 campaign.
He's also good on defense, totaling 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, and held opponents to under 53% shooting at the rim.
Hartenstein can also score, posting a 64.4 field goal percentage while averaging 7.8 points per game last year.
After stints around the league with the Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, Hartenstein was believed to have found a home in New York following his role in the run to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.
Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the New York Knicks looks on during game five of the Eastern Conference second round playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks won 121-91. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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But having been that pro for years, Hartenstein wasn't going to turn down a lucrative deal to join another contender in the Midwest.
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