Hartenstein is the most promising big man from the foreign ranks this season, boasting quality athletic tools and a well-rounded offensive game that mesh seamlessly with the trends of today’s NBA. At 7-feet, he measures out at 242 pounds with a 7-2 wingspan, a combination of both strength and length that’s difficult to find coming directly into the league.
Those physical tools are complimented incredibly well by Hartenstein’s skill set. His fludity of motion out to the 3-point line makes him incredibly difficult to defend, as he can out-maneuver traditional 7-footers while overpowering smaller fours. His strength could also allow him to switch over to the five spot at times, which could be incredibly useful in small ball rotations.
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Hartenstein’s offensive game does, however, haves it’s ups and downs at times. He’s a career 28 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and struggles with bouts of inconsistency on the offensive end. His odd release could also use some tinkering, but most importantly, his decision-making must become more consistent. He’s a crafty passer for a player of his stature, but can at times force the issue when doing so. Per Jonathan Givony’s report (linked above), he averaged 6.3 turnovers per 40 minutes in the u18 European championships. That’s ridiculously high for a big man, and offsets the potential his 5.3 assists/40 minutes hints at.
Here’s him showing off some of that passing potential as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll. He comes around the screen smoothly and makes a crisp entry pass the the cutter. That’s a rarity for a 7-footer.
All the tools are in place for Hartenstein to become a supremely talented offensive big man in the NBA, it’s just a matter of deciphering when the right time to make a play is, and on the contrary, understanding when it’s not. He can’t play reckless basketball and expect to maximize his upside at the next level — and that’s his biggest concern at this point.
Another point that Givony touched on was Hartenstein’s attitude, which is a worthwhile problem to discuss here. He stated that the German big man “blames teammates outwardly” at times, and has a short fuse that isn’t controlled as well as it should be. While a professional system and NBA-level leaders could certainly mend that situation, it’s still something worth noting as teams consider how he fits into their team-building plans.