OKC Thunder: Is Will Barton the ideal trade target?

Though the OKC Thunder may be more inclined to trade away players rather than trade for them, some would argue Denver Nuggets’ wing Will Barton would be an ideal target.

Though we have not yet been able to see the 2020-21 season debut for the OKC Thunder due to COVID-19 related issues, fans are still well under the assumption that the franchise intends to tank this year.

With this, OKC’s main goals appear to be to develop their young core while attaining as many draft assets as possible.

This acquiring capital portion of their “to-do” list will be heavily influenced by the trades they make and, looking at their roster, there are a few players that could wind up being flipped for more of these desirable assets.

However, while the goal in Sam Presti’s wheeling and dealing ways is to bring on picks, Bleacher Report sees one current NBA player in particular as an “ideal trade target” for the OKC Thunder.

That player: Will Barton.

As the article would go on to state, there are two incentives in particular in regard to trading for the Denver Nuggets’ wing, both of which deal with adhering to Presti’s desires:

"Several teams inquired about Trevor Ariza, hoping OKC would buy him out before the season, but the Thunder are stubborn. Why cut $12.8 million in guaranteed salary when they can trade him before the deadline, bringing in even more draft currency?Look for a team like the Nuggets to show interest, with the contract of Will Barton and at least a second-rounder as a sweetener. Of course, then look for the Thunder to trade Barton to another team, with even more draft picks on the way!"

The idea of trading for Barton with the sole incentive of flipping him is kind of genius.

On the second to last year of his deal while coming off of arguably his best year as a pro (15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds on 37.5 percent shooting from deep), giving him an opportunity to play second-fiddle to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and get ample opportunity to perhaps surpass his 2019-20 averages could wind up bringing OKC another first-rounder from a wing/ floor spacing hungry contender.

If it doesn’t take much to acquire him, Presti should jump at such an opportunity to bring him aboard.