Flush with $44 million in cap space, Brooklyn could hijack the Thunder’s roster crunch to pair Isaiah Hartenstein’s elite screening and Jokic-inspired playmaking with Nicolas Claxton.
The Brooklyn Nets could capitalize on the cost-cutting measures the Oklahoma City Thunder could take this offseason, presenting them the opportunity to steal Isaiah Hartenstein with their cap space.
Keith Smith, a Spotrac contributor and one of the hosts of the "Front Office Show" podcast, projected Brooklyn to have the third-most cap space this summer at $44.6 million.
Hartenstein could be a target for the Nets to add more front-court size alongside Nicolas Claxton, employing a two-big lineup that greatly reduces opponents' ability to drive to the rim.
The 7-footer is an excellent, versatile screener. He's played with the likes of James Harden, Chris Paul, Jalen Brunson and is currently teammates with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Hartenstein focused on learning screening angles to make his teammates' lives easier, and over the years, his approach to setting screens has changed depending on the ball-handler.
"I'm not going to screen the same way as I screamed for James (Harden), as I screened for Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Jalen Brunson was totally different," Hartenstein said on the "Old Man and the Three" podcast on March 6.
Hartenstein's passing is another strong attribute in his skill set, which he learned from Nikola Jokić in his brief stint with the Denver Nuggets. He played 30 games for the team in the 2020-2021 season, and Jokic's advice helped strengthen Hartenstein's passing ability.
"He taught me that can still throw it in front," Hartenstein said. "Like a lot of guys think, like if I'm defending AC (Alex Caruso) and I'm looking at AC, I think there's no way he's going to pass it, but if I'm looking at him, I have no idea where the ball is."
Before Denver, he averaged 0.6 assists. After being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he averaged 2.5 assists. Hartenstein has averaged 2.7 assists in the past five seasons.
His passing ability makes him a valuable connective piece when faking a dribble handoff or operating in the short roll, and his teammate in the corner cuts to the basket because the defense collapses.
Hartenstein has touch around the rim as well. Whether it's finishing through contact, a lob or shooting a floater, he's consistently made over 55% of his field goals in six of his nine seasons in the NBA.
The 7-footer helps secure extra possessions with his rebounding, averaging 9.4 rebounds this past season and a career-high 10.7 the previous year.
Hartenstein could become a target for Brooklyn this offseason because Oklahoma City will pay its roster $250 million next season. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren's maximum rookie contract extension kicks in, and they are estimated to earn $41.25 million next year and $54 million in the last year of their deals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's supermax contract extension will also kick in 2027, and he is estimated to earn $60.64 million in the first year, with a $75.2 million player option in the 2030-31 season.
Hartenstein will enter next season earning $28.5 million, but it's a team option, which puts his future in the Thunder's hands. He could be one player affected by potential cost-cutting measures Oklahoma City will have to take to get out of the second apron.
Brooklyn has enough cap space to offer him a similar contract and pry him away from Oklahoma if he becomes a free agent. It would be the same strategy the Thunder used to pry him away from the New York Knicks when the team had cap space because Williams and Holgrem were still on their rookie deals.
A potential Hartenstein addition would strengthen the Nets' front-court, adding size, rebounding and versatility to put together a competitive team.
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