The Western Conference Finals delivered an instant classic with the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the San Antonio Spurs, a seven‑game war that ended with the Spurs winning 111-103 and punching their ticket to the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City’s heartbreak didn’t just reshape the Western Conference—it opened a massive window for the Charlotte Hornets to poach Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort from them.
With the Thunder officially eliminated, Charlotte suddenly has a real shot at prying away these two players who fit their needs almost too perfectly. Meanwhile, the Victor Wembanyama‑led Spurs are starting to look like the league’s next young dynasty.
The Hornets hope to build their own version of that in the East, and adding Hartenstein and Dort would check a lot of boxes this roster still lacks.
Isaiah Hartenstein
The reality is this: even though Isaiah Hartenstein played well for the Thunder, Oklahoma City is heading into a financial crunch. They may decline his $28.5 million team option for next season because with Chet Holmgren’s salary of $41.25 million and Jalen Williams’ new deal kicking in, something has to give. Hartenstein becomes the obvious squeeze point.
To his credit, Hartenstein had strong moments in the Spurs series—especially when matched up with Victor Wembanyama. In OKC’s Game 5 win, his physicality in the paint helped hold Wemby to a 4‑for‑15 shooting night.
It wasn’t enough to save the Thunder’s season, but it showed something important: Hartenstein can be a real equalizer against the league’s most dominant young big. If the Hornets ever find themselves facing Wembanyama in the Finals, they’ll need someone like Hartenstein or someone in the NBA draft to make life more difficult for him.
At seven feet tall, Hartenstein brings the size Charlotte simply doesn’t have. Add in his above‑average passing for a center, and the Hornets’ playmaking would immediately expand.
And don’t forget that Jeff Peterson has already tipped his hand. In his April exit interview, he name‑dropped Hartenstein unprompted:
“The only way to get better is work, and I know we have a ton of workers in our locker room. That's the consistent theme. Then at some point, you go get an Isaiah Hartenstein or Tobias Harris.”
He didn’t just say that by accident. Hartenstein is a realistic, attainable target who checks every box Charlotte needs in the frontcourt: toughness, size, physicality, and playoff‑tested reliability.
Luguentz Dort
Dort might feel like an unpopular target right now after a rough postseason, but this is exactly where smart teams find value. His 5.5 points per game on 36.6/30.8/50.0 shooting splits tanked his stock to the lowest it’s been in years—and that’s precisely why Charlotte should pounce on it if given the chance.
The Hornets have preached physicality all season, and Dort embodies that identity more than almost any guard in the league. His on‑ball defense is suffocating, his motor never dips, and he brings a veteran presence that could reshape the tone of the locker room.
We’ve seen this story before. D’Angelo Russell left the Lakers and bounced back. Malik Monk left Charlotte and had a redemption year. Sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs. Dort can have that same kind of resurgence.
And let’s not forget who he was just a season ago: a legitimate 3‑and‑D weapon who shot 41.2% from deep while taking on the toughest defensive assignments nightly. At 27 years old, there’s every reason to believe he can return to form with a fresh start and a defined role.
Dort checks every box—defense, perimeter shooting, physicality, and buy‑low upside.
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