The NBA free agency period opens on Thursday, signaling the beginning of the NBA offseason's most exciting time. While there might not be many big splashes, teams will still be maneuvering for the services of the many talented veteran players available. One such player is free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein, who has spent the first four years of his career with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers.
A 24-year-old center who seems to be slowly coming into his own, Hartenstein is exactly the kind of free agent a team could take a chance on. With the Clippers having already signed Ivica Zubac to a contract and with Hartenstein likely looking for a larger deal, he is expected to be wearing a different uniform next season.
The apple of every center-needy teams' eye right now is either Deandre Ayton or Rudy Gobert. Any team that misses out on the services of those big men will likely shift their focus to one of the remaining veterans in NBA free agency.
That said, these three teams are the best destinations for Isaiah Hartenstein in NBA free agency.
3 Best Destinations For Isiaah Hartenstein In NBA Free Agency
3. Phoenix Suns
This is a bit of a wild card. The Phoenix Suns tendered a qualifying offer to starting center Deandre Ayton, which means he is now a restricted free agent. As such, Ayton's future in Phoenix is up in the air.
Outside of a sign-and-trade, the Suns aren't likely to bring back any assets that could immediately come in and play center. They're not going to go out and splurge on a big man if they're not planning on paying Ayton what he wants.
The depth chart is also pretty lacking behind Ayton, as veterans JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo are the only viable options- and both are unrestricted free agents.
There's a chance the Suns end up empty-handed at the center spot, which would make Hartenstein an option for them. The seven-footer averaged 1.1 blocks per game in just under 18 minutes while shooting 62.6 percent from the field.
He's an efficient offensive player and a solid defender, one who would immediately step in and serve as a capable starting center for a Suns team with championship aspirations. He's not a bad backup plan if the Suns lose Ayton.
2. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are going to be linked to nearly every free agent center and big man that hits the trade market. They're already reportedly in on Gobert, who would instantly make them more of a viable Eastern Conference contender.
The Bulls were a middling defensive team and one of the worst rebounding squads in the NBA. Nikola Vucevic is an excellent stretch five but isn't much of a rim protector. Plus, backup Tristan Thompson, a rebounding specialist, is an unrestricted free agent.
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer has listed the Bulls as a potential landing spot for Hartenstein- and why not? He has flashed the ability to shoot the three-ball, is a sneaky-good defender and is very efficient inside the three-point line.
Just 24 years old, a team like the Bulls could be rewarded for taking a chance on Hartenstein's upside. He wouldn't be a bad player to end up with if the Bulls miss out on Gobert.
Hartenstein would give Chicago a legitimate seven-footer down low, matching them up better for potential games against bigger teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.
The Toronto Raptors desperately need a center, as their lack of size was a huge factor in their defeat at the hands of the 76ers in the NBA Playoffs. Toronto simply had no one to go up against Joel Embiid, who had his way with the undersized Raptors.
On the current depth chart, the Raptors have no one taller than the 6-9 Khem Birch, which leaves them at a huge disadvantage against the likes of Embiid or Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Isaiah Hartenstein is not some star center-stopper, but he does have the potential to be a huge difference-maker for a team like the Raptors.
Hartenstein would be an easy source of offense inside the three-point line for a Raptors team that struggled to score and score efficiently this past season.
He's also adept enough on the defensive end of the floor that he would fit well into head coach Nick Nurse's defense-first rotation.
Finally, Hartenstein, who attempted a career-high 0.4 three-pointers per game last year, might be stretching his game out to the three-point line.
He's not going to be the second coming of Dirk Nowitzki or anything, but seven-footers that can block shots and space the floor aren't easy to find.
Hartenstein would be an excellent option for the center-starved Raptors.
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