As the Los Angeles Lakers search for a starting-caliber center, a list that once included an almost endless number of high-level bigs is getting closer to zero by the day. On the same day that the Detroit Pistons reportedly declared that they won't let restricted free agent Jalen Duren walk, the Oklahoma City Thunder removed Isaiah Hartenstein from the equation.
For the second time since 2024, Hartenstein has opted to sign with a team other than the Lakers during a period of free agency—and left Los Angeles heartbroken and running out of options.
Just in: Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein intends to sign a new three-year contract to return to the Thunder through 2028-29 that brings his total earnings with the franchise at five years and $134 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN. A key signing in 2024 leading to the 2025… pic.twitter.com/i5mVUaFI15
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2026
Hartenstein had a $28.5 million club option for the 2026-27 season. Oklahoma City had every reason to bring the 28-year-old back after two fruitful years with him as their starting center, including a championship in 2025 and a trip to the Conference Finals in 2026.
Unfortunately, keeping Hartenstein on the roster was a complicated goal to achieve due to the fact that Oklahoma City entered the offseason well over the second apron.
The Thunder have maneuvered to keep the core together, however, by making difficult roster decisions about players on the fringes of the rotation. They traded Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons and Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks, and have seemingly revealed the reason why.
With Hartenstein signed to a new three-year deal, the Thunder have their starting center back in the fold. Unfortunately, that's left the Lakers with a painfully short list of options for their own starting 5.
Isaiah Hartenstein re-signs with Thunder, spurns Lakers again
The Lakers prioritized wing depth at the 2026 NBA Draft when they selected athletic 3-and-D prospect Cameron Carr. They attempted to select a center in the second round when they bought a pick, but after Henri Veesaar was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, they all but immediately gave their second-round pick up again. In the process, they returned their attention to free agency.
Unfortunately, the harsh reality that Los Angeles is now being forced to come to terms with is that the path to a starting-caliber center is as complicated as it was always going to be.
Hartenstein had a club option, meaning the Thunder always had the right to control the outcome of his free agency eligibility. Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler are in similar positions as restricted free agents. Under restricted free agency, an incumbent team reserves the right to match any offer sheet their players receive.
Even less heralded players such as Brook Lopez, Neemias Queta, and Day'Ron Sharpe have club options that put the ball in their current teams' court.
That's effectively put Los Angeles at the mercy of the market. There are options in unrestricted free agency, including Kristaps Porzingis, Mitchell Robinson, and Robert Williams III. Each have extensive injury histories, however, which could deter the Lakers from making a comfortable push to acquire them.
Compounded by the Lakers' lack of ideal resources on the trade front, the path to acquiring a starting-caliber center appears to be leading Los Angeles to far fewer options than they hoped to find.
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