The OKC Thunder have a puzzling piece at the center position
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder elected to trade for Davis Bertans from the Dallas Mavericks on Draft night back in June to move up two spots in the 2023 NBA Draft and grab Kentucky guard Cason Wallace. It was a move that showed Sam Presti’s commitment to landing one of his top prospects and helping alleviate salary cap issues for the Dallas Mavericks, leading to them having a wildly successful offseason to improve their team alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
As the calendar turns to September, we are less than a month away from OKC Thunder training camp. As the dust settles on the Thunder offseason, it is time to ask: What is the plan for Davis Bertans in Bricktown?
The OKC Thunder have an interesting decision to make with big man Davis Bertans; Bleacher Report pitches a trade package.
Davis Bertans is yet another 2023 FIBA World Cup representative, as the OKC Thunder have been one of the most decorated teams at the tournament. Bertans has powered Latvia to a stunning run in the tournament but continues to play the role NBA fans know him for. The only real difference is his attention to detail on the defensive end in these must-win tilts.
To this point in his career, Davis Bertans has played for three teams with similar results on each of them. He is performing as a solid NBA contributor who offers brilliant floor spacing thanks to his deep three-point shooting ability, but not much more.
What is his role with the OKC Thunder? Why is this a more challenging task to answer than many realize? Let’s dive into it.