Isaiah Hartenstein: Clippers Chose John Wall Over Me
The one thing the Clippers need more than anything this whole season was a backup center. The team lost numerous games because of going small this season, and now, it looks like it was all for no reason.
The Clippers' former center Isaiah Hartenstein was interviewed by Tomer Azarly of Clutchpoints, where he revealed that he wanted to return to the Clippers this season. The biggest takeaway was the fact that Hartenstein admits he was willing to take the MLE by the Clippers, but they chose John Wall over him.
“Yeah, I mean, they gave the only thing they really could’ve offered me to John Wall," Hartenstein said to Azarly. "I was — I can’t take that big of a pay-cut. I think I was actually gonna come back, but I can’t take that big of a pay cut. So they picked John Wall over me and I got to live with that."
Even though John Wall's two-year, $13.2 million contract is far less than Hartenstein's two-year, $16 million contract, Hartenstein was willing to the deal if it was available.
“I mean I was open to taking it, but I think I’m now in a good situation where the fans are great in New York, playing at Madison Square Garden every night is great, and I think I’m a part of what we’ve been doing here in winning.”
Reading the statement is truly astounding in retrospect, especially because the Clippers wanted Hartenstein at the trade deadline. The team literally had what it both needed and wanted to start the season, but chose not to keep it. Regardless, Hartenstein still loves the Clippers organization and its fans.
“I love the Clippers fans," Hartenstein said to Azarly. "I miss them a lot. They were really good to me when I was here. I’m really grateful for Steve Ballmer, Lawrence Frank, Tyronn Lue, all those guys, that gave me a chance to be me and play, play the way I know I can play. I think I’ve shown a lot of what I can do with the Clippers and now it’s just adjusting to a role where maybe it's a little less, but it’s still helping a winning team win.”
The Clippers have had a years-long obsession with finding a point guard. From Rajon Rondo, to Eric Bledsoe, to John Wall, to Russell Westbrook, and it's cost the team success almost every single time. Letting go of Isaiah Hartenstein was a mistake that truly cost the LA Clippers, and it's one they felt this season.