Tag: Isaiah Hartenstein

OKC Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein continues to work on 3-point shot in offseason

OKC Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein continues to work on 3-point shot in offseason.

After landing Isaiah Hartenstein, the Oklahoma City Thunder hope the 26-year-old has room to grow. He’s fresh off a career season with the New York Knicks where he stepped up as the starter once Mitchell Robinson went down.

The campaign landed him a massive deal with OKC. He provides them with some serious size and rebounds. After playing without a traditional backup big, the Thunder now employ arguably the best in the league.

A wrinkle to Hartenstein’s game he could add is his outside shot. He’s never truly been asked to be an outside shooter in his career. He’s totaled 87 career three-point attempts. He only took three last year.

But on the Thunder, that could be something he could add to his repertoire. It looks like he’s spent some offseason time sharpening his craft. In a recent video, Hartenstein showed off his corner 3-pointer in an Instagram story.

If the 26-year-old can legitimize his outside shot and translate it to the NBA, that could be a serious weapon for OKC to utilize in its 5-out offense. He’ll provide drivers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams another kick-out option.

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Thunder mailbag: Projecting Thunder 2024-25 starting lineup

Thunder mailbag: Projecting Thunder 2024-25 starting lineup.

For the most part, the Oklahoma City Thunder have done their offseason homework. They enter the 2024-25 season as heavy favorites following the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.

As the NBA calendar flips to the dog days of the summer, the next couple of months are a perfect time to be retrospective and analyze rosters in detail. In the latest Thunder mailbag, let’s look at the starting lineup for the season opener.

Four players are locks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Lu Dort can be written into the starting lineup in Sharpie. All four were regular starters last season.

Josh Giddey’s departure leaves one vacant starting spot. The popular choices have been Caruso or Hartenstein. Others like Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe are seen as wildcard options.

The Thunder should likely choose Caruso to start. He’s an easier fit with the starters than Hartenstein. The 30-year-old is a classic 3-and-D player who’s been mostly a starter for the last two seasons with the Chicago Bulls.

It’s a seamless fit. He’ll be a great kick-out option for the drive-heavy Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams. He should also space the floor with his catch-and-shoot abilities.

Caruso has earned All-Defensive honors the last two years, which means his talents are better suited against the opposing squad’s best scorers.

He must equal his minutes with the starters to get the most out of him. It’d be a waste for Caruso to come off the bench and provide lockdown defense against second units.

There is an argument to be made for Hartenstein to start. After all, his best year last season was because he was plugged into the New York Knicks starters after Mitchell Robinson was out.

But he’s more accustomed to being a bench piece. Plus, the fit isn’t as smooth. The lack of shooting could clog up the lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams.

As great as a two-man frontcourt Holmgren and Hartenstein will be, the 26-year-old doesn’t fit OKC’s 5-out offense. He’s better off being the sixth man and sub into games when Gilgeous-Alexander subs out.

With all that said though, who starts for the Thunder is not nearly as important as who closes out close contests. There will be several instances this season where OKC closes out with Caruso, Hartenstein or even both.

That’s the luxury the Thunder have with their two veteran additions. They provide lineup flexibility they didn’t have last season.

If OKC wants to commit to a perimeter-based lineup, Caruso helps with that. If it wants to go the other way with a jumbo-sized lineup, Hartenstein helps with that.

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Watch: Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein swishes 3-pointers in offseason workout

Watch: Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein swishes 3-pointers in offseason workout.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder added Isaiah Hartenstein, the immediate thought was how the 26-year-old would help the rebounding and size problems.

His rebound rate would’ve easily ranked best in OKC last season. At 7-foot, 250 pounds, he provides the Thunder some serious size at center that they previously didn’t have.

After that though, there are some other secondary benefits with Hartenstein. One might include bringing back an outside shot he abandoned with the New York Knicks.

Hartenstein is a career 27-of-87 (31%) from 3 in his six seasons but only attempted three outside shots last year. He didn’t rule out expanding his game beyond the arc.

“That was something that I felt like I can really bring, expand my game as I was talking about before, just getting back to the shooting aspect,” Hartenstein said. “Because before I was shooting it, so it’s really just getting back to that and being more versatile because that’s kinda what the team needs.”

This is a case where someone must see it first to believe it. Hartenstein had yet to register a season where he attempted one 3-point per game. But the good news is he won’t be asked to do that with the Thunder.

If anything, Hartenstein can return to a similar volume of outside looks he had in previous seasons. It won’t be a high priority but it’s a nice option in case the shot clock is close to expiring or opposing defenses sag off him.

Hartenstein has put in the work from deep in the offseason. He was recently featured in a social media video where he swished in outside attempts.

Attempting outside looks in an open gym compared to an NBA game are two different atmospheres, but it’s productive to see Hartenstein take this endeavor seriously.

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Chet Holmgren excited for additions of Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso

Chet Holmgren excited for additions of Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a successful offseason. With over $30 million to spend in cap space, the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein shore up weaknesses from last season.

After receiving great reviews from pundits, Chet Holmgren stamped his approval on the Thunder’s offseason moves.

In a podcast appearance on “Road Trippin’,” Holmgren told former NBA players Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye why he thinks Hartenstein and Caruso are seamless fits.

“I’m extremely excited. Both very good players with great skill sets,” Holmgren said. “Both have skill sets that complement other skill sets that we have.”

Holmgren also believes both will benefit from their time on the Thunder. They are high-end role players who could see plenty of quality looks because of the gravity OKC’s trio draws.

“We have skill sets that complement what they do too. I think it’s great fits all around,” Holmgren said. “The addition to them opens up more to what we can do.

“Obviously, what we did last year works so I don’t expect us to try to rewrite the whole book this year. You’re always searching to push for your ceiling.”

Instead of sitting on their success from last season, the Thunder took a proactive approach this offseason to strengthen their roster. This has resulted in them being viewed as a title favorite for next season.

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Bleacher Reports grades OKC Thunder 2024 offseason with A

Bleacher Reports grades OKC Thunder 2024 offseason with A.

The calendar will soon flip to August, which means most of the big offseason moves have already been made by NBA teams. Following the draft and free agency, most rosters are set.

This allows Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey to hand out offseason grades for all 30 NBA teams.

As one can expect, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a high result. They had a productive offseason headlined by the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. OKC received an A for its efforts.

“The Oklahoma City Thunder may well have had the best offseason in the NBA.

They’re already among the youngest teams in the league and are coming off a first-place finish in the West. This summer, they addressed their glaring weaknesses…

Adding Isaiah Hartenstein gives the Thunder the option to pivot when necessary, and it’s reasonable to believe Hartenstein and the more perimeter-oriented Chet Holmgren can even play together…

The other weakness was Josh Giddey’s struggles as an outside shooter, which made him an easy option to sag off of. Alex Caruso will punish opposing defenses that choose to pack the paint rather than close out to his open catches.”

Bailey even mentioned their draft haul. The Thunder swung with Nikola Topic, who fell in draft boards because of a torn ACL that will keep him out next season. OKC has the luxury of waiting out his recovery.

“Add to those additions the team-friendly contracts for Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, as well the pick of Nikola Topić (perhaps this class’ best playmaker) in the draft, and this is an easy A even though Topić figures to miss this season while recovering from a torn ACL.”

The Thunder entered the offseason with over $30 million in cap space and used it wisely to improve their roster. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are on bargain deals for the next two seasons, so they took advantage of the added payroll to spend.

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Several Thunder players attend OKC’s summer league loss to Raptors

Several Thunder players attend OKC’s summer league loss to Raptors.

After three games in Utah, the Oklahoma City Thunder flew to Las Vegas to join the rest of the league for the more traditional summer league.

They were flat in their first contest with a 94-69 loss to the Toronto Raptors, but several Thunder players were in attendance for the showing.

Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein made their way to their seats to watch their teammates play. The Thunder have a pair of rookies in the contests with Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell.

Jones finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. He shot 2-of-4 from 3.

Mitchell tallied 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting, three assists, three rebounds and three steals in 30 minutes. He shot 2-of-5 from 3.

“It was crazy because I didn’t really notice them until the end of the game,” Jones said on his teammates’ presence. “It’s crazy those are technically my teammates and brothers now. It’s still a crazy feeling because of their stature and who they are as players.”

Holmgren and Williams get to enjoy summer league from the sidelines this year. Both participated in the event for the last two years. They’ve graduated from the July exhibitions.

The Thunder have a few more games left in their summer league schedule. Holmgren and Williams used the first contest in Las Vegas to support their new teammates.

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Chet Holmgren talks about pairing up with Isaiah Hartenstein on Thunder

Chet Holmgren talks about pairing up with Isaiah Hartenstein on Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder landed a big fish this offseason when they convinced Isaiah Hartenstein to ditch the New York Knicks for a three-year, $87 million deal.

The 26-year-old immediately shores up weaknesses for OKC in size and rebounds. He also adds another dimension to the Thunder they previously didn’t have as a traditional center.

When Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren are on the court together, the Thunder will have two of the best paint protectors in the league roaming around and deterring drivers to the basket.

In attendance to support his new teammates, Holmgren talked about the possibilities of the double-big lineup. He played it safe with his response.

“We don’t know what we’ll look like,” Holmgren said in an interview with NBA TV. “We’re gonna figure out how to be the best version of ourselves for sure.”

The 22-year-old kept his excitement hidden but paired up with Hartenstein is the perfect fit for the two centers. The Thunder fortified a weakness and now have one of the best backup centers in the league.

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ESPN’s Zach Lowe loved the Thunder’s offseason, said they improved the most

ESPN’s Zach Lowe loved the Thunder’s offseason, said they improved the most.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had a productive offseason after becoming the youngest first seed in league history. With over $30 million in cap space, OKC strengthened its roster.

The two big acquisitions for the Thunder were Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. They are perfect fits into OKC’s rotation and are low-maintenance rotation players who can start or come off the bench,

ESPN’s Zach Lowe has been a huge fan of the Thunder’s offseason. He recently stated they are better positioned than any other team in the league to win right now and in the long-term future due to the amount of assets they own.

On “NBA Today,” he further planted his flag on the Thunder by opinionating they improved the most this offseason.

“It won’t get reflected in their win total because they’ve already won a lot of games, but I think the (Thunder) are indisputably the biggest winner of the offseason,” Lowe said. “Again, they won a ton of games, they were the No. 1 seed last year, I’ll bet they’re going to be the favorites to be the No. 1 seed again.”

Lowe mentioned the additions of Caruso and Hartestein as underrated moves. They complement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams extremely well.

“Their versatility in the playoffs went up a level by swapping out Josh Giddey and bringing in Alex Caruso — who shot 41% on threes last year and is an All-Defense player,” Lowe said. “And Isaiah Hartenstein just brings a completely new dimension to their team.

“Helps them on the glass, he can play next to Chet Holmgren, he’s a great passer and that fits with Chet. It just gives them different looks, different styles they didn’t have last year.”

Lowe even boldly proclaimed that the Thunder are an immediate championship favorite. They might not have captured sexy headlines, but OKC quietly fixed its holes from last season.

“I think their ceiling got higher, their playoff ceiling got higher,” Lowe said. “The Thunder are here now to try and win the whole damn thing.”

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Isaiah Hartenstein flirts about bringing back 3-point shot with Thunder

Isaiah Hartenstein flirts about bringing back 3-point shot with Thunder.

After a breakout season last year, Isaiah Hartenstein collected a hefty pay raise with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 26-year-old turned from an unknown 2017 second-round selection to one of the best backup centers in the league.

Hartenstein accomplished this by being a stellar traditional center with the New York Knicks. The seven-footer used his frame to dunk and finish around the basket. He has a soft touch in the form of a patent floater.

Hartenstein can also crash the glass and should be a massive help on the boards for OKC. He grades out as an elite rim protector that can roam the paint. He’s also an underrated passer and can facilitate out of the high post.

But just because he had a career season last year with the Knicks doesn’t mean he’s done developing. The 26-year-old flirted with the possibility of reintroducing his outside shot.

Hartenstein is a career 27-of-87 (31%) from 3 in his six seasons but only attempted three outside shots last year. The shot looks decent but the serious lack of attempts could change in OKC if that’s something both sides want to explore.

“I think you’re an NBA player, you have to adapt to certain roles, and that’s what I had to do in New York,” Hartenstein said. “I think my passing only came out probably last year, so my first year I had to adapt to a certain role.”

Hartenstein wants to be a versatile center who can do whatever is asked of him. His playmaking from last season — where he averaged a career-high 2.5 assists — is the latest example.

“That was something that I felt like I can really bring, expand my game as I was talking about before, just getting back to the shooting aspect,” Hartenstein said. “Because before I was shooting it, so it’s really just getting back to that and being more versatile because that’s kinda what the team needs.”

It’ll be quite the curveball to add to Hartenstein’s repertoire. It’d be a shocker to see him blossom into an outside shooter at this stage of his career. It’s happened before with someone like Brook Lopez, but that’s more of an anomaly than replicable.

Instead, Hartenstein’s hypothetical outside shots should be rerouted to other players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. They both are seen as legitimate outside shooters that opposing defenses will scout for more.

It’d be a neat trick to have on the Thunder that can be Plan Z if a possession lacks cohesiveness, but what Hartenstein did these last two seasons with the Knicks is exactly what OKC needs.

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Isaiah Hartenstein mulled over decision to leave Knicks for Thunder

Isaiah Hartenstein mulled over decision to leave Knicks for Thunder.

Mulling over his choices, Isaiah Hartenstein made the close decision to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder over the New York Knicks.

Traditionally struggling to draw free agents, a mixture of contract and being a contender helped the Thunder land Hartenstein, who is seen as the best outside addition in franchise history.

The 26-year-old admitted he struggled with his decision to leave the New York Knicks. He had his breakout year last season as he took over the starter spot over Mitchell Robinson, who was injured.

“If I’m honest, it was hard. I was in a situation (where) I loved my teammates out in New York,” Hartenstein said. “I really appreciate what Tibs and Leon did for me, and the fans in New York showed a lot of love.”

The appeal to play for a title contender allured Hartenstein. In OKC, he can make a stellar frontcourt with Chet Holmgren. The pair of seven-footers provide the Thunder with stout rim protection.

“But going into this situation, this is very exciting,” Hartenstein said. “From afar, I always saw how the culture was, especially since they’ve been in OKC, how they established a culture.

“The style of play I think really fits me. I’m a high-IQ player. They have a lot of guys who cut, so I think to me I’m one of the best passers in the NBA.”

The Thunder landed their biggest fish yet since they relocated to OKC. Perhaps this is the dawn of a new era where modern players are more open to playing with the Thunder than previous generations.

The finances are likely the biggest reasons, but it’s still shocking to see an NBA player willingly choose OKC over the bright lights of New York.

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