Isaiah Hartenstein blames Nets for NBA draft failure: 'They gave me a red flag'

NBA

by Stephen Bondy

Isaiah Hartenstein could be stripped of millions of dollars in guaranteed money after the Brooklyn Nets raised a “red flag” on him with a fake knee injury, pushing him to the mid-second round in 2017. He said it interfered with his draft status.

“They raised a red flag in my knee. I've never had knee problems in my life,” Hartenstein told hosts Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. He spoke on the podcast “Roommates Show'' with Mr. “The only thing I had was something on my back. I knew that. So I feel like maybe it's my back.

“Draft night, my agent said, 'What's wrong with your knee?'” I'm like, “What are you talking about?” My knee is fine. “He's like, “Brooklyn gave you a red flag with a knee injury, so you're probably going to drop a couple spots.''

Hartenstein said he is expected to go in the 15th to 35th pick range in the draft. Instead, he was selected 43rd overall by the Houston Rockets.

“Draft night. They're similar. 'Houston wants to talk to you,'” Hartenstein said. “At the time, before that, I was projected to be 15-35. And Houston was 43. So I was like, 'Why do they want to talk to me? I'm interested in this Zoom call. I didn't have one, and I was pissed, and I was like, “Why am I talking to these guys right now?'' And they ended up drafting me because they raised red flags with me.''

Hartenstein, who was working out with the Nets before the draft, said the issue likely stemmed from his lack of health with the team. After his draft, he returned to his native Germany for medical attention.

“They say there's nothing wrong with your knee,” Hartenstein says.

Nets GM Sean Marks selected another center, Jarrett Allen, with the 22nd pick.

First-round picks are guaranteed money for the first two years under the rookie scale, with team options for the next two years. Second-round picks typically have to negotiate contracts with lower salaries and less guarantees.

For example, the 2017 No. 15 overall pick had more than $4.3 million guaranteed over his first two seasons, with options worth about $7 million combined for the next two seasons.

Hartenstein spent his first season in the G League after being drafted.

In Hartenstein's first four seasons, he earned a total salary of about $5.6 million with four different organizations, averaging about $1.4 million per season, according to Spotrac.

He began his career with the Clippers in 2021-22, signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the Knicks. He emerged as New York's starting center this season and was a key piece to the team's best season in at least a decade.

He is also scheduled to receive a big salary in the summer as an unrestricted free agent, but because the Knicks hold early bird rights, they can only offer him in the $16 million range, above the starting salary cap.

ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks predicted Hartenstein would earn $13 million to $14 million annually.

“Everything worked out perfectly,” Hartenstein said.

However, his draft night was ruined by the Nets.

“I think if you're over 35, you're going to be (called) to a suite on the second floor. I'm pissed,” Hartenstein said. “I'm like, 'Why did they put up a red flag for me? Why did I fall this far?'”

“I was actually in the bathroom when I got drafted. I was pissing in the bathroom. All I hear is my dad saying, 'Isaiah, Houston just drafted you,'” That's all I shouted.”

Hart, the Nets' notable knee-jerk, returned to the franchise during a separate conversation on the podcast. He compared the Nets and Clippers to two teams playing second fiddle in their own cities.

“Now you travel to the West Coast and play the Lakers and the Clippers. The energy of the atmosphere at a Clipper game and a Laker game, you think it's a different arena,” Hart said. “It's like New York, dude. Nobody rocks in Brooklyn.”