The Los Angeles Lakers’ Deandre Ayton experiment proved to be a misfire, as the 2018 No. 1 pick’s defensive lapses and all-around questionable effort routinely drew the ire of fans in his first season with the Purple and Gold.
However, according to The Ringer’s Michael Pina, LA could be “in the mix” to poach a versatile starting center from one of its top Western Conference counterparts.
Lakers Anticipated To Target Isaiah Hartenstein if Thunder Cut Costs
After getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs in the absence of Luka Dončić (hamstring), the Lakers enter the offseason in dire need of frontcourt and defensive reinforcements.
Despite winning 53 games, they finished the regular season ranked 20th in defensive rating (115.5), 27th in rebounds per game (41.0), and 22nd in nightly blocks (4.3).
LA’s defensive shortcomings were amplified against OKC, as it appeared helpless trying to contain the defending champions’ overwhelming depth, with Ayton serving as a relative non-factor on both ends.
While Dončić’s availability may have made the series more competitive, the Lakers likely still need a bona fide interior presence to challenge the West’s powerhouses. Pina believes LA general manager Rob Pelinka could land one while simultaneously weakening the Thunder by targeting eighth-year center Isaiah Hartenstein, should OKC cut costs.
“They’ll also be in the mix if and when the next center I want to talk about becomes available. Hartenstein holds a $28 million team option on his contract, and the Thunder are about to be saddled with a luxury tax bill that rivals the GDP of a Caribbean island,” Pina wrote in his Monday piece titled, “Wemby Has Forced the Thunder Into an Identity Crisis.”
“It sounds crazy for a roster this deep and talented, but Hartenstein might be their second-most essential player. He ranks second overall in defensive daily plus-minus and has a damn near singular ability to rebound, pass, and shoot roughly 135 percent on that signature push shot.
“Take all that away, and the defending champs are vulnerable against any team that can flex in the paint. (Among them out West are the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Utah Jazz.)”
After praising Hartenstein’s immense two-way impact, Pina continued to gush over his playmaking chops for a 7-footer before outlining how the Thunder could seek to retain the 28-year-old.
“How many centers not named Nikola Jokić are better playmakers from the high post or are able to make a quick decision out of the pocket? The guy is a certifiable hub,” Pina added.
“It’s a borderline indispensable luxury. But is Hartenstein as good as gone? Or will Sam Presti get creative by, say, declining Lu Dort’s team option and then dumping Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe so that OKC can duck the second apron without losing its starting center?
“Or if they become the first team in nearly a decade to repeat as champs, will the Thunder simply bite the bullet and pay an exorbitant tax bill? Odds are that the Thunder will look different next season. If that means Hartenstein is no longer around, the rest of the NBA will be doing backflips to celebrate.”
Wrapping up Year 2 of his three-year, $87,000,000 contract, Hartenstein has proven to be a steal for the Thunder since they signed him in 2024 free agency. He also projects to be an ideal player to potentially anchor the Lakers’ frontcourt and make life easier on Dončić and Co.
Across 47 appearances in the 2025-26 season, Hartenstein averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 62.2%, though the big man’s value stretches far beyond the stat sheet.
