If all the pieces had been equal, Isaiah Hartenstein would have stayed with the New York Knicks as a substitute of signing with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder as a free agent. If a workforce pretty much as good because the Thunder hadn’t made him a suggestion, Hartenstein would have even taken much less cash to stick with the Knicks too. However the mixture of all the pieces was an excessive amount of to cross up.
“I used to be going to ensure I used to be set for the remainder of my life,” Hartenstein mentioned. “However then on the identical time, if it wasn’t a workforce like OKC, I’d’ve taken a pay minimize as a result of I cherished it (in New York). However I now have a chance to make that cash, make that pay increase, and nonetheless compete. I feel that was the principle issue.”
Hartenstein mentioned that Knicks star Jalen Brunson tried to persuade him to remain. Nonetheless, the veteran middle mentioned Brunson taking much less cash to remain in New York wasn’t the identical as his state of affairs.
“He’s form of in a distinct state of affairs than I’m in. Already made $100 million (in his profession). He’s the star participant, is aware of he in all probability gained’t ever get traded. So, it’s a distinct state of affairs,” Hartenstein mentioned.
The brand new Thunder middle that Brunson’s resolution confirmed what sort of chief he’s. And that was a part of what made it exhausting to depart New York.
“It was exhausting. For me, if it wasn’t a state of affairs like Oklahoma Metropolis with an opportunity to win, I don’t suppose I’d’ve left. However that cash is — you need to give it some thought, I simply had a baby so. … Nevertheless it was actually exhausting,” mentioned Hartenstein. “I like New York. I like the entrance workplace, I cherished my workforce. So, it was undoubtedly exhausting. If it wasn’t a state of affairs the place I felt like I actually had an opportunity to win, I in all probability wouldn’t have left.”
