The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers could be working out a trade, with LA looking to use their remaining available cap space.
The Lakers may still have some trade plans up their sleeves, with the team yet to officially sign a handful of players, including second overall pick Brandon Ingram.
According to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers could open up $13 million in cap room, considering they waive or stretch Nick Young, to go along with the unsigned contracts of Ingram, Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas.
There are rumors that the Lakers are saving that cap space in order to make another offseason trade, with the team reportedly having an "unnamed trade target in mind." Such amount would suffice in facilitating a trade for a quality veteran with an expiring deal in hopes of keeping the cap space open for next summer, when the likes of Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin hit free agency.
Cody Williams of Lake Show Life, a popular fan site hosted by Sports Illustrated, believes one potential deal the Lakers could consider is trading their cap space for Boston Celtics big man Amir Johnson.
It is no secret that the Celtics are also looking to add another top player in hopes of completing a roster that could strongly contend for a title. Westbrook and Griffin have all been mentioned as potential trade targets for Boston, and pursuing either of the two stars would require them to clear out some salary, including Johnson's expiring contract.
For the Lakers, adding Johnson won't be for the sole purpose of acquiring an expiring deal to retain cap flexibility in the summer of 2017. Johnson, who averaged 7.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Celtics last season, could help guide the Lakers' young kids.
"LA could definitely benefit in a deal like this as the Celtics have both picks and assets that they could work out a deal with the Lakers. It probably wouldn't happen until closer to the trade deadline, but this is definitely a player and trade to keep an eye on," Williams wrote.
It is odd to see the Lakers working out a deal with the Celtics, two decorated franchises who arguably have the richest rivalry in league history. But for a deal that could help both teams' respective agendas, the Celtics and Lakers working together may not be too out of hand.