NBA Trade Rumors: Post-Draft Buzz Surrounding DeMarcus Cousins and Roy Hibbert
The NBA draft is always the first offseason domino to fall. With the mystery of the draft now unveiled, teams can be a little more earnest in the direction of their roster construction, which should open up more player movement as free agency approaches.
The current rumor mill largely features speculation about upcoming free agents, but that's obviously far from the only avenue to add proven talent. Top restricted free agents like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green aren't escaping from their current employers, while only a small handful hold a realistic shot at the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love. Thus, the trade market looms as the most realistic talent-acquisition medium for many organizations.
In the wake of the draft, a pair of big men have emerged as the names likeliest to move at some point this offseason.
Cousins to Lakers Remains Alive
Anyone with Internet access was aware of the rampant speculation linking the Los Angeles Lakers and DeMarcus Cousins. And while those predraft trade packages centered on L.A.'s No. 2 pick, Forbes' Mark Heisler reports that talks between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings remain alive despite the selection of D'Angelo Russell:
"If the Lakers and Sacramento Kings stopped talking about DeMarcus Cousins to take part in the NBA draft, it remains to be seen if that was merely a pause.
A league source tells Forbes.com that the Lakers would still trade newly-drafted D’Angelo Russell for Cousins.
Crazed as it was to even discuss sending such a potential force to a division rival, the Kings did, although with an astronomical asking price: The Lakers’ No. 2 pick which became Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and more future picks.
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That asking price essentially represents all of the Lakers' tradable assets. However, the Lakers also don't have anything imminent in the way of tradable draft stock. Los Angeles technically doesn't own either of its first-rounders the next two seasons—according to Pro Sports Transactions, the Lakers could send their 2016 pick to Phoenix (top-three protected) or their 2017 pick to Orlando (top-five protected).
The Stepien Rule ensures that the Lakers will make one of those picks, but Los Angeles can't even offer a conditional first-rounder until 2018. Moreover, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has exhibited an incorrigible desire to retain Cousins, with ESPN.com's Chris Broussard even suggesting that a potential George Karl firing was on the way due to the coach's disdain for Cousins. For now, Cousins' camp appears willing to hear out Sacramento's position:
The perpetually dysfunctional Kings seem unlikely to reach a happy resolution with their best player, though, which will always leave the door open for a trade. Los Angeles on its own doesn't have the assets to entice Sacramento, but don't be surprised if GM Mitch Kupchak gets a third team involved, much like he did when the Lakers reeled in Dwight Howard.
Hibbert All But Gone?
All-Star big men are typically among the game's most valuable commodities, as the Cousins hype train illustrates. But pedigree hasn't done much lately for Roy Hibbert, whose poor 2014 postseason and languid 2015 campaign likely have him on the outs in Indiana.
With his market value at an all-time low, Hibbert opted into his $15.5 million player option on Friday, per Grantland's Zach Lowe. But with the Pacers shifting to a more uptempo system aimed at goosing offensive efficiency, ESPN.com's Marc Stein suggested that Indiana will merely move Hibbert to the trade block after his decision:
"But sources say the Pacers plan to explore the trade market for Hibbert this summer as they seek to reshape the team around star swingman Paul George, who played the final six games of the season for Indiana after suffering a horrific compound leg fracture in the summer of 2014 while on Team USA duty in Las Vegas.
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With veteran power forward David West also likely to depart after declining his player option before the draft, Indiana should have an overhauled frontcourt next fall. And while Hibbert's slowpoke style isn't popular in today's NBA, his rebounding numbers bounced back last season, suggesting that he can at least carve out a role as a defensive specialist in the latter half of his career.
