Oklahoma City was unable to defend its championship this spring, having been eliminated by San Antonio on Saturday night in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. No matter how their season ended, the Thunder were going to have to decide what route they wanted to take with Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams.
The Thunder currently project to have a payroll of about $196.2MM in ’26/27 with 12 players under contract. That doesn’t account for the team options for starting center Hartenstein ($28.5MM), starting forward Dort ($18.2MM), or reserve forward Williams ($7.2MM).
There’s technically nothing preventing Oklahoma City from exercising all three of those options as long as ownership is willing to foot the luxury tax bill. However, picking up all the options would see the Thunder go soaring past the second tax apron (projected to be $221.7MM), and they could be facing a roster crunch. They control a pair of first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 17) in the upcoming draft, and players selected in the first round get four-year contracts, with the first two being guaranteed.
Williams was straightforward in expressing his desire to stay with the Thunder long term, according to Rylan Stiles of SI.com (Twitter link).
“It’s no secret that I want to be here until I’m done playing,” said Williams. “Just the environment, the culture, the people that I work with every day. This is a job where I can come in and be myself and everybody around me is good people and a good environment.”
Hartenstein was a little more guarded in his response, noting the decision is largely the team’s, but he made it clear he loves the franchise, as Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman tweets.
“We just lost yesterday, so at the end of the day, that’s something that will be discussed more at the end,” said Hartenstein, likely referring to the end of June, the deadline for the team option to be exercised. “I love being here. I love the organization, but it’s a lot in their hands. I think that them and my agent will talk. It’s a business at the end of the day. But whatever happens, I’m truly grateful.”
Dort, who has spent all seven of his NBA seasons in OKC, said his priority is to stay with the Thunder, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link).
“The conversation hasn’t happened yet. I have a lot of trust in this organization, in (head of basketball operations) Sam (Presti),” Dort said. “Really grateful for all the stuff he did for me to this point. I want to stay here. This organization, this city shaped me as a player. My main goal is to stay here.”
Well, if they let IH go I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks and him reacquaint with one another since MR is going to be a free agent.
He will get paid more elsewhere
Yeah I dont think the Knicks have the money for that
The Knicks don’t need him IMO.
Just because Mitchell Robinson will be a FA doesn’t mean the Knicks have cap space. Far from it.
Which is why they’ll utilize bird rights to retain Mitch.
People are understandably going to want OKC to make moves but honestly, if Mitchell and Jalen Williams were healthy, they would be going to the Finals as favorites. I would be hesitant to do anything major. However, out of these three guys, they should definitely bring iHart back. That’s a lot of money for Dort, probably too much. He’s great defensively but lost some efficiency on offense. They could also probably replace Kenrich with a cheaper option, possibly through the draft.
Interested to see Dorts next contract
I know he had a bad year/ playoffs but I think he’s under payed currently abd would have a pretty robust market if let loose this summer
I’ve heard a lotta people I respect disagree but I’m still holding firm on him – He guarded Jalen Green Lbj and Wemby this playoffs , not many can do that league – wide
He’d be a great fit on Lakers
Thunder can only afford 7 market players and rookie contracts
Lakers should only keep 3 players
Luka Reaves Smart
$70 million
Use cap room to sign or acquire 8 players from Thunder
Hart
Dort
3 guys name Williams
The sad truth is, even with JDub and Ajay healthy, they would lose to the Knicks
But people underestimate the Knicks and most of all Jalen Brunson, so they fail to understand that
“The sad truth is, even with JDub and Ajay healthy, they would lose to the Knicks”
From your lips to God’s ears. I hope you’re right!
People understand that the Knicks played weak teams. They will have to prove they can compete with the west’s best.
Oj anunoby is still the most underrated player in the league and the most underrated man to man defender in possibly league history.
Dude makes plays never happen. Thats how good his d is. Nothing happens, no initiation, nothing.
There’s no proof that OKC would have beat the Spurs if healthy. I’ll be surprised if Bennett will agree to become a 2nd apron team.
I agree they won’t be trying for Giannis or Mobley, and I don’t think Dort will be there next season.
2 out of the 3 are practically guaranteed to be gone. If anyone stays, it will be Hartenstein. It has been floated that he will take a pay cut to stay in OKC. An extension will give time for Thomas Sorber to grow and eventually take over Hartenstein’s role.
IHART can go F himself. Taking a payout to stay in OKC. Where was that discount for New York. He said he loved playing in NY.
He definitely played a lot better in okc, had a bigger role and they are contenders
Very different situation compared to when he was in NYC. Also, this time around he was already paid and made his money so it makes more sense that he would be willing to take a paycut now.
You in your feelings thats all
Why would he take a discount to stay on a badly constructed roster with 12 other clunky bigs? Remember this was also before the Randle trade.
You’re just a self-centered little twit who doesn’t care a lick about him if you actually think that.
Taking a paycut AFTER making 30M PER year is much different than taking one after you’ve made a TOTAL of 22M in your entire career.
Dropping from 30M to 20M is much different than taking 12M when 30M is on the table.
Can’t blame either the NYK or I-Hart for the breakup. The contract ran into an unintended application of one of Silver’s arcane salary rules that capped what the NYK could offer him on an extension (starting at about 16 mm/yr). The NYK were willing to offer what was allowed, and I-Hart was certainly willing to take a discount. He was close to extending on that basis.
But Presti was smart enough to get an “early” (before the draft) offer to I-Hart’s agent which blew away what the NYK could offer (he started him at about 28 mm/yr, which was essentially all the cap space he had). Nobody (who hasn’t made big money in their career) is in a position to turn that down. Add to it that his wife was pregnant (i.e., the fun part of his life was over anyway).
It’s possible he’d like to come back. But it’s also possible he’s moved on. Either way, its hard to see how the NYK could possibly effect it.
Fun part of his life was over? That’s just sad. He’s got the best years to look forward to with his family.
Not sad.
I think DXC meant it in a different sense like his wife is pregnant and It’s time to become a man with different priorities.
Take care of the family, college fund, etc. He’s not gonna use a big salary on a sports car and European vacations with his wife.
I love your sentiment though. These will be the best years of his life coming up and it will be fun.
@Gary – Thx for having my back. Yeah, kind of what I meant. Maybe.
DXC, I know I should never speak for someone else, but you know that my intentions were honorable and sincere.
I do, and you did well. Thx.
Depends on what you mean by his “best” years. Most rewarding, productive, etc.? I’m fairly comfortable that he’d consider his 2 years in NYC his most fun years.
Nothing sinister. He loved the City lifestyle, and the Knicks’ crew with whom he explored all that it had to offer. He met his wife (cute little thing) during those explorations. IDK, they looked like they were having fun.
If I’m the thunder I would ask ihart to take a pay cut and if he doesn’t then replace him with a trade for Robert Williams, and find a way to keep dort and k Williams for cheaper
And then obviously there is the drastic route of trading for Giannis and giving up J dub or Chet even though that would be too risky
The whole reason Hartenstein has a Team Option for this amount is so they could be able to do an Opt-In & Trade at this number.
They knew they were overpaying him at 30M. It’s about creating the salary slot for another starting level player. If they want to retain him they just decline and re-sign for a lower salary w/ more years (3/60 or something).