The Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting at the very top with the best record so far in the 2025-26 NBA season.
Sitting at 38-11, and too many future draft picks to really count, the Thunder are believed to be drawing trade buzz with less than a week left before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5.
Now, why would OKC be a team to watch? The answer is money.
Windhorst: Isaiah Hartenstein has been included in trade rumors
In the latest version of ESPN's Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, the insider mentioned that Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein is a player who's popped up in trade rumors.
Hartenstein, 27, has a contract that owes him $28.5 million in 2025-26 with a club option for 2026-27.
The center has averaged double-doubles in both years he's been in Oklahoma City, but injuries have resulted in him missing nearly half of the Thunder's games this season.
When he's on the court, he's productive, averaging 11.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 64 percent from the field. However, his issue of staying healthy could be the reason behind him emerging in trade talks.
Draft capital is far from an issue in Oklahoma City, so if the Thunder were to move Hartenstein, expect general manager Sam Presti to look for another player in return for the big man.
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