The Thunder is viewed by NBA sources as the top threat to pry Hartenstein away from the Knicks in free agency. After finishing atop the Western Conference with 57 wins in the regular season, Oklahoma City can make a stronger bid for Hartenstein than the Knicks, who are capped out but can offer a starting salary of roughly $17 million using their Early Bird Rights.
Source: New York Post
Source: New York Post
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
The Thunder reportedly have real interest in Isaiah Hartenstein, which would be an interesting pivot:
si.com/nba/thunder/ne… – 9:03 PM
The Thunder reportedly have real interest in Isaiah Hartenstein, which would be an interesting pivot:
si.com/nba/thunder/ne… – 9:03 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
The Thunder are viewed as a serious threat to sign Isaiah Hartenstein away from the Knicks, per @SbondyNBA (nypost.com/2024/06/10/spo…).
OKC will have $35+ million in cap space, which is more than enough to outbid New York due to Early Bird Rights contract restrictions. pic.twitter.com/867jwxIf9k – 8:27 PM
The Thunder are viewed as a serious threat to sign Isaiah Hartenstein away from the Knicks, per @SbondyNBA (nypost.com/2024/06/10/spo…).
OKC will have $35+ million in cap space, which is more than enough to outbid New York due to Early Bird Rights contract restrictions. pic.twitter.com/867jwxIf9k – 8:27 PM
More on this storyline
Led by long-time NBA guard Dennis Schroder, Germany has officially announced the extended roster of 16 players who will fight for medals in the Paris Olympics. The team is stacked with familiar faces, including all 12 who triumphed at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Wagner brothers, Daniel Theis, Andreas Obst, and others are all back for another shot at glory. The roster boasts 4 NBA players and 10 EuroLeague athletes. The extended roster lacks New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein and Dallas Mavericks power forward Maxi Kleber. Hartenstein previously expressed Olympic aspirations with the German national team but hinted at uncertainty about being selected: “I don’t think I’ll be invited to the Olympics under any circumstances.” Meanwhile, Kleber had a conflict with team captain Schroder last summer. -via BasketNews / June 4, 2024
The Knicks are limited in how much they can offer Isaiah Hartenstein. Why? How does it work? Because Hartenstein, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, signed a two-year contract with the Knicks in 2022, the team is now capped at how much it can pay to bring him back for next season. The two-year deal means they have only Early Bird rights, not Full Bird rights, which accrue when a player has been with a team for three or more seasons. The Knicks can bring Hartenstein back, but they cannot offer a starting salary greater than 175 percent of his previous season’s pay. -via New York Times / June 3, 2024