How Would a Davis Bertans Trade Benefit the OKC Thunder?

Seventeen games into the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder is sitting in a good position both record and roster-wise. That doesn't mean it can't make improvements, however, and trading away marginal pieces might be the place to start.

The Oklahoma City Thunder might be sitting near the top of the Western Conference in a no-longer-so surprising development, but that doesn't mean it's anywhere close to perfect. 

That's a given — no team in the NBA is — but the idea of not being perfect alludes more to the idea that the team can still find ways to improve than it criticizes a young team. The question remains how best Oklahoma City can accomplish the former.

Obviously, switching-up lineups and experimenting with different game plans is one way to go about inciting positive change, but again, the Thunder is playing well and its record shows that. 

“Chet Holmgren is a stud, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a Top-5 or Top-10 guy in the league,” HoopsHype wrote, referring to an interview with an un-named NBA executive. “[It's] in line for a Top-4 seed and homecourt advantage in the playoffs."

That being said, if the Thunder are looking to make improvements — which team wouldn't be — it would more-than-likely come from the edges rather than core pieces. And the trade market provides a strong way for that to happen. 

"As for Thunder trade candidates, two international players are possibilities: Davis Bertans and Vasilije Micic," HoopsHype wrote in its recent league analysis. "Bertans has been seldomly used, and rookie Cason Wallace has leaped Micic, a two-time Euroleague champion and Final Four MVP, in the rotation."

Bertans is currently with his third team in four seasons, and first with Oklahoma City. So far this season, he's shown flashes of decent shooting, though there is something be said about how his season high came against the San Antonio Spurs in preseason. 

The small forward isn't new to the NBA, either. In the past, he's averaged upwards of 15.4 points on a season, though a mark that high was only achieved one time. Bertans, simply put, isn't of use to the Thunder.

He's only appeared in five games so far, averaging just 3.4 points and less than one in every other major stat category. He isn't a bad player, nor a bad leader — his experience certainly is an asset to a young team — but for an Oklahoma City team finally ready to take the next step and become a true contender, he might not be needed anymore, as the Thunder could grab another piece to bolster its roster.

The demand for Bertans is unknown, but it would certainly be worth a shot for the Thunder to shop him — and potentially Micic — around to gauge league interest. And if the return is anything more than a player with five appearances, that'd be a plus. 

The Thunder is already in a good spot. But slight improvements might be the answer.

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