The Thunder’s second-round exit against the Mavericks made one thing clear: the roster needed changes.
General Manager Sam Presti made two big moves in the offseason, signing Isaiah Hartenstein and trading Josh Giddey to the Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso. Adding these two foundational pieces to the Oklahoma City roster allowed the team to see increased success in many ways this season.
The Hustle Defense of Caruso and Hartenstein
This season, the Thunder have been recognized as one of the greatest defensive teams the league has seen in recent years. Leading the NBA in defensive rating (106.7), OKC has been a nightmare to play against all season.
Hartenstein has added a new level of interior defense to the team, which the Thunder lacked previously. He is averaging a career high in blocks (1.1) and defensive rebounds (7.9) this season.
This has led to OKC allowing the fewest points in the paint per game this season (42.5). Last season, without Hartenstein’s paint presence, the Thunder allowed 47 points in the paint per game. This has allowed the Thunder to reach a new high defensively.
Alex Caruso has built his reputation on tenacious, high-effort defense, earning himself back-to-back NBA All-Defensive Team honors prior to joining the Thunder. Few match Caruso’s intensity and effort on the defensive end.
Caruso only sees the floor about 19 minutes per game this season, but he hustles every second of those 19 minutes. Averaging 1.5 steals per game, he sits at 13th in the NBA in deflections per game with 3.4. His energy defense provides a much-needed boost for OKC coming off the bench.
Seamless Integration and Underrated Playmaking
When a competitive team brings in new players, it can be a struggle for those players to find their role within the team. This hasn’t been the case with Caruso or Hartenstein. Both players have wasted no time making their presence known within the organization.
Hartenstein’s playmaking ability has been flying under the radar all season. Currently averaging a career-best 3.8 assists per game, he has impressed his teammates with his passing.
His screening ability and passing have helped the team generate more offense outside of All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Whether he’s finding shooters on the perimeter or tossing pinpoint lobs, Hartenstein consistently showcases his high basketball IQ through his passing.
Caruso also fits right in with the team. A pre-existing relationship with Coach Mark Daigneault has made his transition into the rotation much smoother. Caruso’s familiarity with Daigneault stems from their time together with the Oklahoma City Blue.
Caruso also brings a veteran and championship mindset to the team. He won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers, so he knows what it takes to make deep playoff runs. This will allow him to provide much-needed guidance to such a young group of talented players.
When asked about Caruso, Mark Daigneault said, “He’s just such a winner. He’s got great competitive instincts. Great situational awareness. He’s also present in the game. He’s never distracted by how the game’s going for him… He just plays the next play the same way. The defensive versatility and intellect are also huge.”
Immediately impacting both sides of the ball, Caruso and Hartenstein have helped elevate the Oklahoma City Thunder to a new level. This season, they have achieved a franchise-high 65 wins, making it the best regular season in OKC history.
The offseason additions Sam Presti made to the roster have only strengthened the Thunder’s already impactful defensive core. Caruso and Hartenstein have shown themselves to be plug-and-play guys for the young and exciting OKC squad.
With Caruso and Hartenstein now in the rotation, the Thunder’s ceiling has never been higher as they look to make a deep push into the postseason.
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