Thunder's playoff dominance may hand Mavericks the center they desperately need

After the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs last night, the Dallas Mavericks may have the perfect shot to fix their center rotation by signing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. Hartenstein has a $28.5 million team option on his contract after this season, and with Oklahoma City's surplus of depth, they could decline this option to create financial flexibility.

Thunder are heading toward the same cap situation that hit the Celtics

The Thunder have two bigs who would start on most teams with Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein, and if they elect to move on from Hartenstein after year two of his three-year, $87 million deal, he'll be a hot commodity in free agency. Despite his undeniable impact on OKC's winning over the last few seasons, there's at least a chance that they decline his team option.

They're too expensive and dominant to keep everyone, and if Sam Presti wants to keep this excellence rolling into the future while maintaining flexibility, moves like this will eventually be necessary.

Just last summer, we saw the Boston Celtics dump Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to escape the second apron. Both players played key roles for the Celtics and helped them win the 2024 NBA Finals, but they didn't want to face the penalties of the second apron.

These moves helped Boston clear up their books, and they still look like a Finals contender this season without Holiday and Porzingis. The Thunder could quickly find themselves in the same boat, especially if they win the NBA Finals again this year, and Dallas should pounce quickly if Hartenstein enters free agency.

This season for Oklahoma City, Hartenstein averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 62.2 percent from the field. His strengths include his push shot, screen-setting, passing, finishing around the bucket, and rebounding, and he'd immediately become the best center on the team.

The Mavericks need more consistency down low, especially due to Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford's injuries, and Hartenstein would immediately fix this issue.

Dallas can't count on Lively II and Gafford anymore

It would make the most sense for Dallas to trade Gafford if they sign Hartenstein, leaving them with a core of Lively II and Hartenstein to hold down the paint. This would be an incredible duo for years to come if both players can stay healthy, and bringing in Hartenstein would allow Jason Kidd to play Lively II less.

Injuries have not been Lively II's friend over his first three years in the league, as he has played just 98 games so far. After playing in just seven games this past season, it's clear that Dallas can't rely upon him to be their long-term starting center just yet.

Him staying healthy next season could change that, but signing Hartenstein for the MLE would at least give Dallas a more reliable option who brings veteran leadership, high IQ, and strong playmaking. Lively II could learn from him, and the Mavericks would have a versatile big man on the floor at all times if they sign him.

This will all depend on what the Thunder decide to do, but if their win over the Suns proved anything, it's that they have the core to compete for titles well beyond this year. Hartenstein is obviously part of this core, but they have the depth behind him to still be an extremely dangerous team without him as well.

Dallas, among countless other teams in the NBA, would benefit from OKC turning down its team option, and the Mavericks could find themselves in an ideal spot to poach one of their rivals' starting big men.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow