The Oklahoma City Thunder could be active at the trade deadline, but holding firm could have its benefits.
Seemingly, no one on the Thunder comes up more often in trade rumors than Davis Bertans, but they may be smart to keep him around. His constant inclusions in trade rumors or mock trades come from his contract.
With $17 million owed to him this season, Bertans is Oklahoma City’s second-highest-paid player. Having played in just 12 of the team’s 40 games thus far, he is a logical trade piece in a potential deal for another star-caliber player.
However, with the second-best record in the West and one of the best young cores in the league, adding an established star is not needed. Along with that, Bertans could provide meaningful experience as the Thunder navigates the first playoff run of this era.
Including Western Conference Finals runs with the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks, Bertans has played 45 playoff games throughout the first seven seasons of his career. Meanwhile, the rest of the Thunder roster has 30 games of playoff experience combined.
While there is no guarantee the sharpshooting forward ever cracks the Thunder’s rotation or gets on the floor in the playoffs, his resume should at least warrant an opportunity to contribute. As a career 39.8% shooter from beyond the arc, Bertans gives the Thunder a floor spacer as teams may try to force them into outside shots in the playoffs.
While it seems counterintuitive to force one of the league’s best 3-point shooting teams into those shots, it is a viable strategy. The Los Angeles Lakers have followed that idea to a 2-1 record against the Thunder this season.
With three of their five highest-volume 3-point shooting games against Los Angeles, Oklahoma City has been taken out of its offensive rhythm. Ranking fourth in points in the paint this season, Oklahoma City needs as many shooters as possible to space the floor if a team packs the paint or has a rim protector like Anthony Davis to deter inside shots.
Although Bertans is not a great defender or rebounder, his 6-foot-10 frame makes him a potential small-ball center. Considering the playoffs are all about matchups, the eighth-year forward could make a significant difference when the Thunder need him most.
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