For the longest time, Isaiah Hartenstein has been seen because the lame-duck beginning heart for this OKC Thunder group, for the membership is beelining their method towards surpassing the second apron in 2026-27, and declining his third-year possibility has been tabbed as the simplest way to duck under it.
However, the arrival and subsequent sensational play of Jared McCain could prove to be the rationale why the large man surprisingly stays put out within the Sooner State past this 12 months’s marketing campaign.
During a recent episode of the Game Theory Podcast, present host and seasoned author for The Athletic, Sam Vecenie, could not assist however hype up the sophomore for his manufacturing with the Thunder since arriving simply forward of the February 5 commerce deadline.
During his praise-filled spiel, the long-time McCain advocate admitted that the guard has even exceeded the lofty expectations he had for him following final month’s take care of the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, what actually stood out in Vecenie’s evaluation of the 22-year-old’s affect on Oklahoma City is that he believes he now makes guys like Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe extra expendable, which, in flip, could possibly be the deciding consider whether or not to maintain onto Hartenstein for one other 12 months.
“I think [having McCain] kind of sets them up to be able to move on from especially Isaiah Joe and get off of his $11 million, but I do wonder if it allows them to move off of Lu Dort, particularly,” Vecenie stated. “If you move off of Isaiah Joe and Lu Dort… It’s about [$25.5 million combined], I believe. Do you know how much Isaiah Hartenstein makes on the team option for next year? [$28.5 million]… I wonder if this sets up for a potential opportunity to allow them to keep Hartenstein.”
Jared McCain makes Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe extra expendable for Thunder
Though turning down Hartenstein’s third-year possibility has been the most well-liked proposed path towards avoiding any dreaded second apron penalties, it has been removed from the one one broached.
Interestingly sufficient, the idea of offloading Dort by way of commerce has additionally been one ceaselessly mentioned.
Considering his age, inconsistent offensive manufacturing, and the truth that OKC has a equally expert participant on the identical place in Cason Wallace, who’s up for an extension this summer season, all through the 2025-26 marketing campaign, buzz concerning the Thunder parting methods with the veteran has already been gaining traction.
With McCain now within the fold and hooked up to a rookie-scale deal by 2028, the guard rotation appears to not solely be getting youthful however far cheaper.
Should Sam Presti and firm not have full religion in red-shirted rookie Thomas Sorber taking on the reins on the 5 alongside Chet Holmgren subsequent season, holding onto Hartenstein for the length of his deal, and, as an alternative, offloading Dort and I-Joe stands out as the extra strategic transfer to make so as to lower down on prices.
McCain’s arrival makes this hypothetical state of affairs all of the extra believable.
