Cavaliers big man Isaiah Hartenstein has decided not to exercise his player option for the 2021/22 season and will become a free agent, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). The minimum-salary option would’ve paid Hartenstein about $1.76MM.
[RELATED: NBA Player Option Decisions For 2021/22]
Multiple reports in June indicated that Hartenstein was expected to opt out, so his decision doesn’t come as a surprise. Those reports also suggested that the 23-year-old was a good bet to work out a new deal with the Cavaliers rather than leaving Cleveland for a new team.
Hartenstein is eligible for restricted free agency, which will give the Cavs some control over the process and increases the likelihood that he sticks around. The team will have to issue a qualifying offer worth about $2.03MM to avoid having him become an unrestricted free agent.
Hartenstein began the 2020/21 season in Denver, but played limited minutes with the Nuggets and was sent to Cleveland as part of the JaVale McGee trade at the March deadline. In 16 games with the Cavs, Hartenstein recorded 8.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.2 BPG in 17.9 minutes per contest. All of those averages would’ve been career highs.
The Cavs’ frontcourt figures to undergo some changes this offseason, whether or not Hartenstein returns. Like Hartenstein, Jarrett Allen will be eligible for restricted free agency, though Cleveland is expected to bring him back. Kevin Love is considered very available in trade talks, and the club may end up adding big man Evan Mobley with the No. 3 pick in the draft.
Nice stats. Don’t remember him playing that much tho.
Oh yeah I like him a lot. He is smart in the pick and roll, has the ability to shoot the midrange and potential for the 3pt later in his career, and is a prolific rebounder. The major flaw of his is he is in foul trouble every game, even if playing like 15 minutes. They are lazy fouls too, i.e. fouling the ball handler on the fast break, or fouling a player 3/4ths of the way through their shot and after they shoot too. But anyways, he’ll be in the league for a long time for sure.
His Per 36 minutes fouls per game is 6.9 lolll, but he just turned 23 so he’ll figure it out
Career total* per 36 minutes
Offer then match. Won’t be too much.
Zizic is doing well in Europe, good scorer, not a big rebounder. Should be reacquired if Harts leaves.