Surprising NBA rumors has Thunder and Lakers plotting trade behind Spurs' back

NBA free agency hasn't even started yet, and it appears that the San Antonio Spurs' rivals may be conspiring against them. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and are expected to look significantly different next season.

They will be up against the second apron and may be forced to move on from key players such as Lou Dort. That's where the Los Angeles Lakers potentially come into play.

The Lakers could have up to $50 million in cap space and, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, have inquired about trading for Dort (subscription required). Los Angeles could offer the Thunder cap relief and a couple of second-round picks in exchange for absorbing Dort's salary.

Doing so would potentially weaken OKC but strengthen the Lakers.

The Spurs must pay close attention to the Thunder and Lakers this summer

The Lakers are a clear rung below the Thunder and Spurs but are hoping to close the gap. Getting an all-defense-caliber player for relatively cheap is a big step toward that.

The Lakers need perimeter defenders to surround Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic with, and Dort can start at small forward. However, ironically, the Spurs could steal the Lakers' starting power forward Rui Hachimura away in free agency.

They could use their mid-level exception to sign him away if the Lakers renounce him to have access to cap space. Losing his bird rights would make it harder for them to bring him back

Hachimura and Dort would eat up $35.4 million of their cap space. However, the Thunder moving Dort would free up OKC to keep Isaiah Hartenstein while staying under the second apron.

The Spurs should be taking notes on the Thunder's cap gymnastics

In addition to moving Dort, they have to trade Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins as well. Moving those three players without taking back any salary in return would take them from having about a $258 million payroll to around $217 million.

That would give them about $4 million in breathing room below the second apron. That kind of cap gymnastics may be what the Spurs will have to do in a couple of seasons, presumably with De'Aaron Fox.

If the Thunder do indeed trade Dort to the Lakers and they also ship out Joe and Wiggins, OKC would have less depth but more flexibility. Meanwhile, the Lakers would be getting a starter for very little to try and contend with the likes of the Thunder and Spurs.

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