Chatting with reporters this week for the primary time as a member of the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein mentioned all the fitting issues about his potential function, as Rylan Stiles of SI.com relays.
There was loads of debate in Oklahoma Metropolis this summer season about whether or not the crew’s main free agent addition will begin or come off the bench, given the presence of Rookie of the 12 months runner-up Chet Holmgren at heart. For his half, Hartenstein sidestepped that discourse, telling the media that he trusts head coach Mark Daigneault‘s judgment in managing the lineup and rotation.
“No matter he does, he’s a extremely versatile coach. I imply, you watched final 12 months. Some video games the blokes who would begin would begin the second half,” Hartenstein mentioned. “(I’m) simply being right here and doing regardless of the crew must win. If that’s coming off the bench or beginning, I’m simply right here to assist the crew win. That’s the principle factor.”
Right here’s extra from across the Northwest:
- Having been traded from Washington to the Path Blazers in July, Deni Avdija admitted it initially felt “sort of bizarre” to hitch a brand new crew, however added that he’s adjusting rapidly, in line with Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. “They’ve embraced me, they love me they usually need me to get higher,” Avdija mentioned. “And I really feel like that’s what you want as a brand new man becoming a member of the crew. I really feel like my teammates help me, coaches. I really feel at residence.” Head coach Chauncey Billups referred to Avdija as a “Swiss Military knife-type of dude,” lauding the ahead’s play-making, passing, screening, and capturing whereas noting that the plan is to make use of him “throughout” the courtroom.
- The addition of Russell Westbrook represents the “final chemistry experiment” for the Nuggets, in line with Tony Jones of The Athletic, who says the transfer has the potential to explode — or to assist Denver win one other title. Westbrook shot simply 3-of-10 from the ground in his preseason debut on Friday in Abu Dhabi, however had 12 factors and eight assists in 19 minutes, with Denver outscoring Boston by 4 factors throughout that point. “I believed Russ had some good moments on the market,” head coach Michael Malone mentioned, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Submit. “Clearly enjoying downhill, placing stress on the protection, getting his teammates concerned. So total for his first sport after every week or so of apply, I believe there are gonna be some positives, and like all people else in that locker room, there are many issues that we will clear up as effectively.”
- Though Christian Braun began at capturing guard on Friday, Malone mentioned that each Braun and Julian Strawther will get a chance to play with the Nuggets‘ starters through the preseason, tweets Durando.
- Reporting all through the offseason indicated the Jazz plan to lean closely on their younger gamers in 2024/25, which is able to serve the twin objective of letting Utah totally assess its current first-round picks whereas additionally probably lining up the membership for an additional excessive first-round decide subsequent June. Head coach Will Hardy‘s feedback this week bolstered the notion that successful video games isn’t “the completely precedence” for the crew this season, writes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “Going into this season, I believe our imaginative and prescient could be very clear: This is a chance for us to essentially spend money on our youth,” Hardy mentioned.
