Isaiah Hartenstein is in the Marcus Smart mold of players whose box score numbers don't do him enough justice as a player. Hartenstein is one of those players who is annoyingly good, which made him a pain in the neck for the Boston Celtics not too long ago. While it would make all the sense in the world for them to join forces, all indications suggest it won't happen.
The Oklahoman's Joe Mussatto revealed that despite Oklahoma City potentially declining Hartenstein's expensive team option next season, indications are that they'll re-sign him.
It gets worse, though. MassLive's Brian Robb revealed that "the Celtics have long been fans of Hartenstein, per sources, but they will be limited in what they can offer the big man compared to Oklahoma City."
Boston has been known to try to bring in guys who fit the Hartenstein mold of being someone they absolutely dreaded facing over the past few years. Kristaps Porzingis, Malcolm Brogdon, and we'll even add Dennis Schroder to that group. But despite the impending roster turnover the Thunder are about to go through, they still like Hartenstein that they're not risking letting him walk.
It's tragic because not only does he make sense in Boston, but it's clear they understand that perhaps better than anyone does. Yet it feels like a union isn't in the cards and may never be.
So if not Hartenstein, then who?
Hartenstein was definitely among the best options at center this summer, and not just because of what he brings to the table. He would have been an unrestricted free agent, making it easier for Boston to chase him compared to some of the other top-notch bigs on the market who will be restricted free agents, like Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren.
That's not to say that Boston is not out of options. They still have the non-taxpayers mid-level exception, can execute sign-and-trades, and, while it's unlikely, can utilize the $27.7 million Anfernee Simons TPE to bring in someone else.
Hartenstein was probably the easiest option the Celtics could have turned to this summer, but like anyone else in the Thunder's shoes, Oklahoma City knows what he brings and wants to make sure he doesn't skip town on them.
More options will likely open up after the draft and free agency shakes out. It's a shame that Hartenstein likely won't be one of them, but just because the easiest option won't be there doesn't mean Boston won't have something up their sleave.
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