Isaiah Hartenstein has a new home. The New York Knicks free agent center, one of the best players available in free agency this offseason, has agreed to a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The two sides agreed to a three-year, $87 million deal. It was a deal that the Knicks could not compete with as they were capped at a four-year, $72.5 million max offer. Receiving nearly double the amount of money per season was just too much to pass up.
In fact, this deal is a record-setting one for the franchise. As shared by Fred Katz of The Athletic, the three-year, $87 million deal is by far the largest free agent contract the Oklahoma City Thunder have ever agreed to.
Before this year, the largest contract that the franchise had ever signed a free agent away from another team was three years and approximately $16 million. That went to Patrick Patterson in 2017, as Isaiah Hartenstein has signed for nearly 5.5 times that amount.
A balloon contract like that benefits everyone involved. Because of how that contract is structured, Isaiah Hartenstein will be able to hit free agency again before he turns 30.
Cashing in on another long-term contract with the NBA salary cap skyrocketing is great for both sides. Also, by the time this contract comes to an end, it will be one deal off the books so that the Oklahoma City Thunder can sign their homegrown players to long-term deals.
It is being reported that Isaiah Hartenstein was truly torn about leaving the Knicks. He loved the franchise, his teammates and the fan base, calling New York home for the last two seasons.
But, that kind of life-changing money is impossible to pass up. Also, the chance to still compete with an Oklahoma City Thunder team that had the best record in the Western Conference this past season was too much to say no to.
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