On Friday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Isaiah Hartenstein has signed a three-year extension with the OKC Thunder. The deal, which is for $75 million, will bind Hartenstein with OKC through the 2028-29 season.
Some netizens, however, were not impressed with the contract signed by Hartenstein. A number of fans claimed that this move dampened the impact of the Thunder’s latest lottery pick, while others wondered out loud how OKC could have the cap space to pull this off.
When the Thunder made their run to the mountaintop in 2025, Hartenstein was a key piece in the frontcourt, protecting the paint alongside Chet Holmgren.
Though Hartenstein continued to provide toughness in the shaded lane this past season, Victor Wembanyama got the better of him and the Thunder frontcourt as the San Antonio Spurs overcame OKC in the Western Conference Finals.
The addition of Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 center from Michigan, was viewed as an insurance policy in case Hartenstein wouldn’t come to terms with the Thunder on a new contract. Now, it appears that Hartenstein will serve as the big-man mentor to rookie Mara in the upcoming season.
Report: Cason Wallace’s OKC Future “In Doubt” After Thunder Commits to Extensions for Isaiah Hartenstein and Big Three
In the wake of the Isaiah Hartenstein news, reporter Jake Weinbach tweeted that a certain OKC guard might find himself on the outside looking in.
“Cason Wallace’s long-term future in OKC might be in doubt with the Thunder committed to lucrative extensions for SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. Wallace is due for a sizeable extension of his own with one year remaining on his rookie contract.”
Though Wallace was named to the All-Defensive Second Team this past season, the extensions offered to the four OKC starters could mean that the Thunder might dangle a relatively smaller deal for the three-year pro.
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