@Bernd said in <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/nba-brooklyn-nets-embarrass-themselves-against-okc-thunder/" title="NBA: Brooklyn Nets embarrass themselves against OKC Thunder”>Isaiah Hartenstein in the NBA:
As a Knicks fan, I would have liked to see him stay in New York, but the Thunder’s contract is just crazy. That’s not even remotely worth Hartenstein. Leon Rose has done a very good job in NY so far and I am sure he will find a successor.
Hartenstein has developed very well, but he is not a superstar and should not be impossible to replace.
I want to comment briefly because I also have a completely different opinion. But please don’t misunderstand: no offense. Everyone is allowed to have their opinion.
The contract for Hartenstein is anything but “crazy”. The “fair” market value in today’s NBA before free agency, if you believe the various “experts”, was probably a contract in the range of Nic Claxton (25 million USD pa). After signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Isaiah will earn $27.6 million in 2024/2025 – “minimal” more (in percentage terms) than Claxton (Nets).
What you shouldn’t forget is that OKC deliberately pays Hartenstein “a little” more in salary each year to compensate for the lack of the fourth year of his contract. The Thunder want flexibility, especially after the 26/27 season (SGA, Dort, Williams, Wallace) and for that they are happy to pay a little more money in the next three years.
I can’t really answer whether New York is doing a good job. What I can say: Hartenstein owes the Knicks “nothing.” New York signed him, but Coach Tibs in particular did everything he could to NOT let Isaiah’s abilities come into their own (use 100% identical to Mitchell; partly 3-man rotation with Sims) rather than the other way around. Only when there was no other option due to injuries etc. did the coach let Isaiah start and at the end he even gave “touches” as a ball distributor.
