After what seems to be a rollercoaster set of trades, OKC’s latest move now makes sense: Isaiah Hartenstein is finally here to stay for three more years with the Thunder as they seek to stay big and bulky heading into the 2026-27 season.
The Oklahoma City center is expected to land a new three-year deal, ensuring they will keep his defensive and rebounding services in the years to come as they try to compete for a championship after winning it back in 2025. IHart’s contract situation has been on the radar of many teams, but Sam Presti’s genius work now shuts them all down with this unprecedented move.
For starters, many fans and experts were expecting to see a Lu Dort extension, considering how the latter has been a crucial part of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s development with the team, and is one of the few players remaining from the 2020 Thunder squad. With Hartenstein now moving to be a crucial piece in the years to come, OKC stays big, and they’re definitely more than geared to battle against the rest of the league with their rebounding flaw covered.
Isaiah Hartenstein Extension Keeps OKC Big and Bulky
Rumors claim it would be a $75 million offer, meaning the center would get around $23 to $25 million per year, depending on which year has the bigger deal. The Aaron Wiggins-Isaiah Joe trades now make sense, as OKC saves around $161 million in fines as they try to work around not getting below the second apron. With Hartenstein now staying for more years, it’s safe to say that the championship window for the Thunder is staying open longer than it was expected to be.
IHart Extension Gives OKC More Muscle
Over the years, Oklahoma City has been criticized for not having enough muscle to control the boards and even being a strong contender amongst the Western Conference teams. IHart’s addition was a huge win back in the 2024 offseason, and the 2025 championship was proof it worked. Now that the challenge is getting even harder, keeping Hartenstein’s services away from other teams is such a huge win. Chet Holmgren, as we all know, isn’t a bulky center like IHart, but he does provide the spacing and the scoring punch that they need, except when it comes against Victor Wembanyama.
Isaiah Hartenstein reacts to his contract extension on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/t3EsaeREHz
— SleeperThunder (@SleeperThunder) June 27, 2026
With Aday Mara now added to the Thunder’s rotation heading into the next season, and Thomas Sorber hopefully coming into play now more than ever, OKC is more than well-equipped to deal with teams that will pose a threat when it comes to paint dominance for now. In his stint with Oklahoma City, IHart is the only player in franchise history to average 10/10 with 10.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, all while shooting 59.7% from the field.
That efficiency pairs well with his defensive impact, making him blend well with Holmgren on the floor. Both centers have a high defensive upside, and with Mara and Sorber joining the fray, there’s definitely an expectation that OKC will hold the fort in the painted area. That’s enough to make them one of the sizeable teams in the league for a while.
Mara Gets More Development Time
While many critics claim that Mara’s individual career would take a hit with IHart being extended, there’s a major upside with the German center staying for three more years. Many expect Mara to get right into the launch pad and take on bigger roles for the Thunder. He’s even being dubbed as the “Wemby Stopper”, but we all know it’s still too early for that.
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Aday Mara big men rotation 😭 https://t.co/zJyM7mDipm pic.twitter.com/gjT87SbBLs
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) June 27, 2026
With Hartenstein staying, expect the Michigan product to come off the bench and provide impact minutes as the team’s reserve center. OKC is getting huge with IHart still in the lineup, and being able to field another center when he and Holmgren take a seat with Mara as another 7-foot big man taking over is definitely a win.
It’s also worth noting that Mara would benefit from having two senior centers ahead of him. Holmgren could deliver the principles of being a DPOY-level defender, while Hartenstein could teach the Spanish center how to maximize his size to be a major force on both ends of the floor. That’s a better win for Mara’s development in the years to come, rather than throwing him straight into the fire.
The New Deal is a Steal for the Thunder
On top of it all, Oklahoma City saves a lot on signing Hartenstein compared to what most people think. Imagine paying a center of his caliber for just $23 to $24 million a year. That’s way less than what Jakob Poeltl gets with his salary — despite IHart being a much more valuable big man. Paying Hartenstein an estimated $75 million for the next three years is something that the Thunder can capitalize on.
Just in: Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein intends to sign a new three-year contract to return to the Thunder through 2028-29 that brings his total earnings with the franchise at five years and $134 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN. A key signing in 2024 leading to the 2025… pic.twitter.com/i5mVUaFI15
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2026
What makes it even better is that it is not too expensive — should OKC seek to trade him to a team of his choice. This means Oklahoma City would have leverage to gain assets for a potential deal, all while getting IHart to his preferred destination if it comes to that. Either way, this deal is the perfect move for the Thunder’s hopes of another title, and they can capitalize on it moving forward.
Photo credit: Jerome Miron, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
