NBA Trade Rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder to Trade Daniel Orton?
By Chris Roling
Daniel Orton is not a name you would normally hear a lot of, but the promising prospect may be leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason thanks to his great performances in the summer leagues.
The Thunder are dangerously close to having too much money on the books, which means keeping Orton around could be very difficult. It does not help that the team has three other centers on the roster while he averages 12 points and five rebounds a game in the summer league in Orlando.
Berry Tramel of Newsok.com has the report:
"Orton likely is the odd man out. He’s due to be paid just $916,099 in 2013-14, and Orton’s Summer League performance last week was impressive.But Orton is one of four centers on the Thunder roster. In the modern NBA, you don’t need four centers. Heck, in the old NBA, you didn’t need four centers, not when you’ve got Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison, too.So look for the Thunder to try to trade Orton. Probably a second-round draft pick is all OKC could get for him, but that’s better than nothing, which is what the Thunder will get if it has to waive him."
Watch for another team to come calling soon about Orton. He’s a valuable young asset at this point and it is painfully obvious the Thunder do not have what it takes to keep him around.
Orton could land somewhere and be a contributor right away, especially on rebuilding teams. A second-round pick is a small price to pay in exchange for the high upside and production Orton represents at this time.
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