Oklahoma City spent the offseason fixing a problem area, and the result is a frontcourt that suddenly looks loaded with options.
The Thunder brought back Hartenstein on a new three-year deal that keeps the veteran big in Oklahoma City through the 2028-29 season. Then they added more size and upside in the draft, selecting Aday Mara out of Michigan with the No. 12 pick.
Mara brings a 7-foot-3 frame to a group that already features Chet Holmgren, and that gives OKC a very different kind of front line than it has had before. Holmgren took another big step last season, earning All-NBA Third Team honors, All-NBA Defensive First Team recognition and finishing runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The Thunder have already gotten solid work from the Holmgren-Hartenstein pairing, but Mara changes the picture. His size and passing give Oklahoma City another way to attack defenses, and his game creates problems that go beyond simple post-up pressure. A player that tall usually forces a double team once he gets deep position, but Mara’s passing can make that a risky choice.
That’s where things get interesting for the Thunder. Holmgren can score from all over the floor, so he can stretch defenses in ways most bigs can’t.
Hartenstein, meanwhile, can anchor the paint and finish with floaters. That leaves OKC room to mix and match.
One option is the familiar Hartenstein-Holmgren duo, with Hartenstein working inside and Holmgren drifting to the corner and wings. Another is pairing Mara with Holmgren, which could give Holmgren cleaner looks from the block area. Oklahoma City could also put Mara and Hartenstein together, creating a frontcourt that would be heavy on playmaking, since Hartenstein is known for moving the ball as well.
For a team trying to make another title push this season, strengthening the frontcourt was a clear offseason priority. With veteran experience, added size and a few different ways to deploy its bigs, Oklahoma City now has a group that can cause real problems for opponents.
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