If everything were equal, Isaiah Hartenstein would have stayed with the New York Knicks instead of signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent. If a team as good as the Thunder hadn’t made him an offer, Hartenstein would have even taken less money to stay with the Knicks too. But the combination of everything was too much to pass up.
“I was going to make sure I was set for the rest of my life,” Hartenstein said. “But then at the same time, if it wasn’t a team like OKC, I would’ve taken a pay cut because I loved it (in New York). But I now have an opportunity to make that money, make that pay raise, and still compete. I think that was the main factor.”
Hartenstein said that Knicks star Jalen Brunson tried to convince him to stay. However, the veteran center said Brunson taking less money to stay in New York wasn’t the same as his situation.
“He’s kind of in a different situation than I’m in. Already made $100 million (in his career). He’s the star player, knows he probably won’t ever get traded. So, it’s a different situation,” Hartenstein said.
The new Thunder center that Brunson’s decision showed what kind of leader he is. And that was part of what made it hard to leave New York.
“It was hard. For me, if it wasn’t a situation like Oklahoma City with a chance to win, I don’t think I would’ve left. But that money is – you have to think about it, I just had a child so. … But it was really hard,” said Hartenstein. “I love New York. I love the front office, I loved my team. So, it was definitely hard. If it wasn’t a situation where I felt like I really had a chance to win, I probably wouldn’t have left.”