By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
German center Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, keeping the frontline enforcer with the franchise through the 2028–29 NBA season.
As reported by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Friday, the new agreement brings 28-year-old Hartenstein’s total guaranteed earnings with the franchise to $134 million over five years. To structure the extension, the Thunder will decline his $28.5 million team option for the 2026–27 season and replace it with the new deal, which features a 15% trade kicker and a mutual option in 2028.
The Oregon native originally signed an $87 million deal with Oklahoma City in 2024 as an unrestricted free agent and instantly became a crucial interior presence, helping guide the roster to an NBA championship in 2025.
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
Over his two seasons with the Thunder, he has averaged 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Despite a lingering calf strain that limited him to 47 regular-season appearances last year, he returned fully healthy to play in every postseason game during the team’s recent run to the Western Conference Finals of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
Just in: The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading sharpshooter Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rHf0VHp7k0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2026
The lucrative extension confirms general manager Sam Presti’s strategy to maintain a championship-caliber frontcourt alongside Chet Holmgren. The Thunder front office paved the way for this payday earlier in the summer by executing cost-saving trades, moving Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks and Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons to free up necessary salary cap flexibility.
New York guard Jose Alvarado is declining his $4.5 million player option and intends to sign a new three-year, $14-plus million deal to return to the Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Knicks made it a priority to retain the NY native who played key role on a historic championship team. pic.twitter.com/zZHXbOVorX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2026
Meanwhile, the reigning champion New York Knicks made their own key roster move by securing guard Jose Alvarado. The New York native is declining his $4.5 million player option to sign a new three-year deal worth upward of $14 million to remain in his hometown, per Charania.
Read the latest News
Read the full article here
