How the latest Isaiah Hartenstein intel changes the Celtics' offseason plans

One of the primary needs for the Boston Celtics this offseason is to fortify the center position. They need a partner who will combine with Neemias Queta to form a potent 1-2 punch.

Isaiah Hartenstein is an ideal veteran option. Unfortunately, that never felt realistic. Even with the Oklahoma City Thunder falling to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the seven-foot center proved too valuable to a title contender that will have to deal with Victor Wembanyama for years to come.

The latest intel about the eight-year veteran reinforces that he is unlikely to change teams this summer.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, "He's expected to remain in Oklahoma City. The question among executives around the league is whether the Thunder will exercise their team option or decline it and work out a new multi-year deal at a lower average annual salary."

Hartenstein's contract carries a $28.5 million club option. If Oklahoma City exercises that, the nearly non-existent odds of him joining the Celtics this offseason would take a significant hit. It would mean their $27.7 million traded player exception [TPE] is no longer a path to acquiring him.

If they don't do so, as unlikely an outcome as it would be, that would open up the possibility of acquiring the 28-year-old center via a sign-and-trade, utilizing that TPE. However, in a recent edition of The Stein Line, Jake Fischer conveyed that the Thunder are "generally seen as a lock to retain his services."

His intel reinforces that Boston must put more energy into other options at the pivot.

How will the Celtics bolster the center spot?

While Hartenstein is yet to come off the board, the latest reporting on his future provides increased clarity about the Thunder's commitment to him. As Boston looks elsewhere, a reunion with Robert Williams III, Al Horford, or Kristaps Porzingis is intriguing.

However, the Golden State Warriors are working to retain Porzingis. Horford has a player option worth slightly below $6 million for the 2026-27 season. If he believes in their ability to be competitive next year, then there's a good chance he'll remain in the Bay Area.

Williams is a more realistic option. And the Celtics might be able to sign him by utilizing the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is worth $15 million. Even with multiple suitors, his market probably won't exceed its value.

The Time Lord was healthy in the postseason and held his own against Wembanyama. Williams averaged 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks in the Portland Trail Blazers' first-round series vs. the Spurs.

The Shreveport, Louisiana, native turns 29 in October. In a backup role behind Queta, he would bring an infusion of athleticism and give Boston a rim protector and lob threat off the bench. The hope, of course, would be that this role helps him to again be available in the playoffs, as he was this year.

If the answer to this search is a veteran who hasn't spent time in green, then perhaps the solution is a heaping portion of "Beef Stew." As previously explored, the Celtics and Detroit Pistons would make sense as trade partners. Boston could send Sam Hauser to "The Motor City" for Isaiah Stewart.

The 25-year-old center is coming off a campaign where he averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, including 1.7 on offense, and swatted 1.6 shots per game in just under 23 minutes.

He's also just two years removed from converting on 38.3 percent of the 3.3 threes he launched. To this point in his career, that's an outlier. However, the potential exists. And he would be switching to a roster with better floor spacing than the Pistons.

Another player the Celtics might go after is Mitchell Robinson. If James Dolan holds firm on his latest message, saying that he will not sign off on the New York Knicks exceeding the second apron, then their No. 2 center is in play.

He figures to command more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception on the open market. So, if Boston pry's him from its rival in the Big Apple, it will likely require a sign-and-trade that allows Brad Stevens to utilize the team's largest TPE.

Robinson's a lob threat; he grabbed 4.2 offensive rebounds per contest in under 20 minutes, and he rejected 1.2 shots per tilt. His combination of size, physicality, and athleticism makes him another top candidate to fortify the center position for the Celtics.

Boston could end up needing to look elsewhere to bolster that spot on the depth chart. However, these are some of the more intriguing names to keep an eye on this summer.

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