Spurs have perfect plan to prevent OKC-style fire sale thanks to Wembanyama

The Oklahoma City Thunder's surprising Lu Dort trade should be a cautionary tale to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs' rivals, the Thunder, were forced to shed players this summer to try and stay under the second apron.

That resulted in them essentially giving away Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins. In doing so, they lowered their tax bill from $219 million to just 17 million. The trade-off is that it makes them less deep entering next season.

They have the NBA to thank. Or, perhaps more accurately stated, blame for having to give up some of their depth. The collective bargaining agreement is meant to do just that by forcing big market teams to shed salary in the name of parity.

That's the intention, but it hurts small market teams, such as the Spurs and Thunder, equally.

Victor Wembanyama took less to keep the Spurs out of OKC's position

Victor Wembanyama declining a chance at a supermax contract gives San Antonio more wiggle room underneath the second apron compared to OKC. After all, the Thunder are having to pay Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30% of the cap.

Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are each making 25% of the cap. Ironically, the Thunder drafting both Holmgren and Williams in the same year came back to bite them, with both players eating up 50% of the salary cap starting next season.

Luckily for the Spurs, San Antonio is able to stagger their max contracts with De'Aaron Fox getting his max next season, followed by Wembanyama in 2027-28. They could be followed by Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in 2028-29 and 2029-30.

The Spurs are better positioned than the Thunder to weather the CBA

The main benefit of that is the Spurs can duck the second apron for the next 3 years. During which time there may be an expansion draft in which they could shed Fox's salary as well as the CBA being reworked.

Frankly, both would be huge for the Spurs. If an expansion draft were to happen and the Spurs unprotect Fox, they could rid themselves of the final three years of his contract without having to give up any picks or players.

As for a potential CBA change, it seems likely that the NBA Players Union would try to get rid of the second apron. In fact, they may have some common ground with the owners.

Having the second apron removed and going back to a simple repeater tax could ensure San Antonio keeps their core plus several key rotation players together. That is, as long as they are willing to pay to do so.

OKC doesn't necessarily have that luxury. Sure, they have plenty of picks, but they are already having to duck the second apron years before the Spurs have to. That is exactly why Wembanyama took less and why it could give him and the Silver and Black an edge over the Thunder.

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