One of the LA Clippers' most notable mistakes in recent history continues to be the choice of a veteran guard in John Wall over an exceptional center in Isaiah Hartenstein. Though this was a justifiable decision years ago, head coach Tyronn Lue could currently use Hartenstein's assistance.
Furthermore, the Clippers' two-way superstar Paul George was eager for the front office to sign Wall, as they had a previous friendship and planned to become teammates. They had signed the Washington icon to a two-year, $13.2 million deal. With a limited money left, fans understood why Hartenstein was unwilling to take a major pay cut.
Though there was a chance George's wish could have followed through, the front office is now faulted for not researching why Wall would not fit. He was not beneficial beyond the arc, sluggish on defense, and essentially failed in the backup point guard role.
The experiment on Wall was good for about half the season before he was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-team deal and then waived. He has not played in the NBA since.
Conversely, the Clippers had to watch Hartenstein dominate for the New York Knicks, then get paid by the number one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Clippers are faced with the pain of watching Hartenstein dominate for OKC.
Months after joining the New York Knicks, Isaiah Hartenstein made it clear he would have joined the LA Clippers had they not signed John Wall. This is a growing pain, as Hartenstein is arguably the best role-playing center in the NBA.
This season, Hartenstein has averaged 10.9 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, shooting 56.1% from the field in 36 games started for the Thunder. He also plays under 30 minutes per game, demonstrating his effect on the best team in the Western Conference.
Additionally, in his final season with the Knicks, Hartenstein was great. He stamped 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 64.4% from the floor in 75 games.
With the success of Ivica Zubac, Hartenstein would have been a fantastic fit for Tyronn Lue in the second unit. He would execute the pick-and-roll precisely, especially with a former MVP in James Harden and an outstanding passer in Ben Simmons.
Instead of having a mind-boggling center rotation of Zubac and Hartenstein, the Clippers struggled to work with Wall and were left scrambling for a veteran to complement what they were working towards.