OKLAHOMA CITY — Isaiah Hartenstein played his former team Friday on a production binge with the Thunder.
It was one of those rare instances when it actually worked out for both sides.
Oklahoma City got Hartenstein, plucking him away for a free agency price that seemed exorbitant but already looks like a steal.
The Knicks took a pivot to Karl-Anthony Towns, who is on a trajectory to starting in the All-Star Game.
“It was smart,” Hartenstein said before tipoff. “I think it was for both parties, it was perfect. I’m in a situation here where it’s going really good. They got a great center, one of the best centers in the league. So I think for both parties it was perfect. Knowing Leon Rose, he’ll always find something. He’s been doing a great job, so he made the right adjustment.”
After recovering from a broken hand sustained in preseason, Hartenstein’s return coincided immediately with a ridiculous stretch of 17 victories over 18 games.
He filled the starting spot vacated by the injured Chet Holmgren and immediately flourished.
Heading into Friday night, Hartenstein’s average production was up in virtually every statistical category — including points (12.6, up from 7.8 last season), rebounding (12.2, up from 8.3), assists (3.9, 2.5) and minutes (29.7, up from 25.3).
There are no regrets about leaving the Knicks for more money.
“I think I’m getting the ball a little bit more now. In the league, you just have to find your roles and every situation your role is different,” he said. “Kind of New York it was [different]. My usage went up more at the end, but I was just trying to figure out a role and that was playing defense, rebounding, getting Jalen [Brunson] open, getting other guys open looks. And so I think you just have to adjust to the role. Here the role is getting the ball a little bit more.”
Losing Hartenstein created a domino effect that led to the seismic Towns trade.
Hartenstein’s departure — plus Mitchell Robinson’s injury setbacks — created a desperate need for a center, morphing into Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle being shipped to Minnesota.
It was also a flaw in the framework of the CBA, which is supposed to help teams keep the players they develop.
But with Hartenstein, the Knicks were limited to offering a max of four years, $72.5 million.
The Thunder gave up three years, $87 million.
The reason for New York’s restrictions was it originally signed Hartenstein to a two-year deal, so operated with only his partial Bird Rights.
Oklahoma City signed him using straight cap space.
“We wish we were able to keep him. I’m not sure who did the CBA where we could only offer him $72 million. We kind of got screwed with that one,” Hart said, ignoring that his union negotiated the CBA.
Still, it seems to have worked out for all parties.
Hartenstein is thriving.
Towns is thriving.
The Thunder and Knicks faced off Friday as the first opponents with concurrent winning streaks of at least nine games since 2000.
“It was crazy because that was obviously the first domino that we couldn’t keep him, and he was gone,” Hart said. “And then obviously Mitch being out kind of sparked having to get a center. And it was definitely was a hectic summer. We definitely didn’t know what was going to happen. But now we got a good team, we’re comfortable with the team we have. And we can go out there and compete. But that was definitely the first domino that fell.”
Now the Knicks have to watch Hartenstein ball out in the Southwest, which is being made a lot easier by watching Towns also do great things.
“Isaiah’s done a really good job,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Probably being out in the beginning may have helped him some. Just so he can observe. He’s the type of guy who can watch and learn and they’re using him in a way that he’s comfortable with. Just playing out of the pocket. His game translates well to any system. Because he can pass. He can screen. He’s a great defensive rebounder. And that fits into any style.”