Isaiah Hartenstein grabs 12 rebounds vs. Clippers

With Chet Holmgren (knee) out for at least 8-10 weeks, the Thunder will rely even more on Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams (3/4/1/1) and Aday Mara (seven points, nine rebounds, three assists and four blocks) in the post. Of the three, Hartenstein is the safest option for fantasy managers, which is why he’s rostered in over 80 percent of Yahoo leagues.

According to MacMahon, Holmgren underwent a biological treatment on Friday to address a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee. With Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) facing extended absences, and given Holmgren’s injury history, fantasy managers should expect the Thunder to be very cautious with his rehab process. Kenrich Williams should remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, and Aday Mara’s playing time should increase. Also, Holmgren’s absence raises Isaiah Hartenstein’s fantasy ceiling.

He hasn’t played since October 25th against the Clippers, so that will make it three straight missed games. Kenrich Williams has been starting in his absence, but he hasn’t played starters minutes. If Hartenstein is available in your league, he’s worth a look.

Unfortunately, Holmgren sitting out Monday’s win over the Suns wasn’t solely because it was Oklahoma City’s second game in as many nights. Kenrich Williams moved into the starting lineup and played 24 minutes against Phoenix; he should fill a similar role on Wednesday.

With Chet Holmgren (knee) sitting out Monday’s game, Hartenstein was the lone 7-footer in the Thunder starting lineup. He recorded his second double-double in as many nights, and iHart’s ability to play both games of Oklahoma City’s back-to-back is encouraging. He appeared in 47 games last season, and injuries also contributed to Hartenstein’s minutes dropping by more than three per game. He’s looked healthy so far, which is critical with the Thunder losing Jalen Williams (ankle/leg) for the season on Sunday.

Holmgren is dealing with right patellar tendonitis. Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win over the Clippers Sunday while Holmgren had a relatively quiet game with 10 points and four rebounds. Hartenstein should see even more usage with Holmgren out Monday against the Suns.

After blocking four shots in Tuesday’s season opener, Holmgren matched that mark on Thursday night. Add in the rebounds, and this was an excellent night for those rostering the slender 7-footer, especially in category leagues. The Western Conference Finals may have left a bad taste in Holmgren’s mouth, but he appears to have put that behind him. This could be a big season for Holmgren if he stays healthy.

Despite missing time during the preseason with a quad injury, Holmgren is not on the injury report for Tuesday’s season opener. As a result, Aday Mara may not get the minutes that he did during the preseason, but the rookie should still be in the rotation.

Mara came off the bench with Isaiah Hartenstein making his preseason debut, but he was still able to make a solid impact in his 19 minutes. Mara has been productive during the preseason, and with Chet Holmgren (quad) and Jaylin Williams (heel) having been sidelined for the preseason so far, there is a chance Mara ends up playing a large role early on behind Isaiah Hartenstein. It’s a situation worth monitoring with the regular season set to start in just one week.

With Isaiah Hartenstein sitting out a second straight preseason game, Mara started alongside projected starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams on Wednesday. The rookie looked very comfortable in that role, meshing well with the Thunder playmakers in the two-man game. Mara didn’t miss a shot from the field, and Oklahoma City posted a +22.5 net rating when he was on the court. How valuable the rookie is in redraft leagues will depend on Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren’s health, with iHart limited to 47 regular-season games last season.