Oklahoma City Thunder linked to landing best big man available
Oklahoma City Thunder linked to landing best big man available
While the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t reach their goals this season, the common thought is that Mark Daigneault’s team is on the rise. Having Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren certainly helps, but the Thunder also have a treasure chest of tradeable first-round picks and a wealth of cap space until their stars get massive contracts.
The Thunder could take either approach to improving their roster this summer, and of course, their young players will only continue to grow, too. But several NBA executives are expecting the Thunder to spend some of their cap space on one of the best free agents available.
Related: New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets big men are expected to get huge deals this summer, but only one likely to re-sign
Oklahoma City Thunder could make Isaiah Hartenstein an offer he can’t refuse
The Thunder may very well be an ideal fit for Hartenstein, but first, they have to make sure he’s not enticed by what the Knicks can offer. Yet, being that New York’s max offer tops out at a four-year, $72.5 million contract, odds are the Thunder will get their chance to negotiate.
However, as Fischer’s sources noted, Hartenstein’s real market value may be closer to $80 to $100 million. If Oklahoma City is willing to meet Hartenstein’s asking price after learning how much others value him, they may have to beat out others, such as the Magic, who have expressed interest in the 26-year-old 7-footer too.