Direct conference rival looking to snatch up second ex-Thunder ahead of training camp

Though the majority of the core that helped the OKC Thunder clinch last year's number one seed in the Western Conference standings and embark on their first semifinal berth since 2016 remains largely intact, there have simultaneously been many players who have come and gone during this time span.

While some of these departed ballers may have simply proven themselves to be underwhelming contributors within coach Mark Daigneault's rotation (Gordon Hayward, for example), others showed flashes of solid play that, ultimately, made them highly sought after commodities for opposing clubs.

The most recent ex-Thunder to be courted by an opposing organization is eighth-year veteran Dāvis Bertāns, who, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein, has officially been extended a workout invitation by the Golden State Warriors.

Ex-Thunder forward Dāvis Bertāns invited to workout with Warriors

In a follow-up report, Stein revealed that Bertāns' agent, Artūrs Kalnītis, has revealed that the forward "will prepare for the upcoming season together" with the Warriors.

Though a workout invitation does not necessarily guarentee a spot on Golden State's training camp roster, it must be noted that veteran wing Rudy Gay was involved in a similar situation with the organization last offseason, and ended up inking a one-year contract with the team in late September.

Perhaps Bertāns may wind up being on a similar trajectory as Gay was, and, considering the current state of the Warriors, it's easy to see such a hypothetical become a reality.

This summer, the Dubs saw several key players from years past depart from the Bay Area, with the most noteable name that abandoned ship being Klay Thompson, who inked a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.

Despite these salary sheds, however, Golden State still finds itself pressed right up against the dreaded luxury tax and in need of one more player to fill their 15 and final roster spot heading into 2024-25.

Bertāns may not be a true difference-maker by any stretch of the word, but he's an individual who has seen five different playoff runs since entering the league back in 2016-17, boasts an impressive 6-foot-10, 225-pound frame, and has made a name for himself as being a knock-down shooter in the frontcourt, as he's cashed in on 39.6 percent of his long-range attempts in his career.

For a financially restricted team that's still looking to compete like the Warriors, the idea of bringing on such a talent on a low-cost contract should be highly coveted.

Should they extended an offer to the 31-year-old before training camps come underway, it will make it the second former Thunder player Golden State has snatched up this summer, with the first being Lindy Waters III via an NBA Draft night trade back in June.

Bertāns finds himself coming off a 2023-24 campaign where he dropped averages of 6.7 points and 1.4 rebounds on 38.0 percent shooting from distance while splitting time between Oklahoma City and Charlotte, as he was traded to the Hornets in early February as part of the failed Hayward blockbuster exchange.