Signing Isaiah Hartenstein
Last year in Las Vegas, Isaiah Hartenstein appeared to be a player who was completely baffled by the tempo of the professional game, as the 43rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft often looked like a deer in the headlights when on the floor with the Rockets.
Hartenstein, who played just 9.1 minutes per game for Houston at the 2017 Summer League, averaged just 4.4 points per game behind center Zhou Qi, while shooting just 36.3 percent from the field.
Now, the 7’0″ center from Germany appears to have found his stride, as the center who starred on the Rockets’ G League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley last year has garnered an official contract with the big club.
The 20-year-old big man, who averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for Houston at the 2018 Summer League, agreed to terms with the Rockets on a three-year, $3.9 million deal on July 25.
"“He looks like a different player,” Rockets assistant coach Roy Rogers said to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle about Hartenstein last month. “I don’t want to get excited because we haven’t played [an official] game yet. But his confidence is definitely better.” “His body looks better. He understands our system more. He’s playing, he’s reacting instead of having to think.”"
Although no one knows whether or not Hartenstein’s play at Summer League will translate to the real action this October, the man who turned down several lucrative overseas offers to learn the Rockets offense could emerge as Houston’s backup center should he progress and improve upon his stellar showing from last month.
In four games at Summer League, Hartenstein displayed the dexterity to score either on the perimeter or low block at an effective rate, shooting 52 percent from the field.
He also showed an improved motor on the defensive end, averaging a team-high 2.3 blocks through four games, as his ability to protect the rim and run the floor could make him a nice young asset on a Houston roster with Clint Capela and an aging Nene.
Grade: B-