D'Angelo Russell Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Lakers PG

Point guard D'Angelo Russell already has Los Angeles Lakers fans buzzing after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but that could be short-lived due to L.A.'s reported interest in Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.

Continue for updates.

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Lakers Would Reportedly Consider Dealing Russell for Cousins

Monday, June 29

When the Lakers bypassed Duke center Jahlil Okafor to select Russell with the second pick of the draft, most assumed that it was due to a perceived confidence in being able to sign a big in free agency.

As it turns out, though, Russell could very well be part of a deal that would bring one of the most promising centers in the game to Los Angeles.

According to Mark Heisler of Forbes.com, the Lakers are willing to trade the former Ohio State standout to the Kings for Cousins, although a deal seems unlikely since Sacramento originally asked for forward Julius Randle, guard Jordan Clarkson and additional draft picks.

However, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA reported the Lakers "love" Russell and want to keep him on the team. 

While general manager Mitch Kupchak acknowledged the importance of quality big men following the draft, he made it clear that he felt Russell was the best fit for them at No. 2, per Mike Bresnahan and Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times:

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You look around this building and you see (Wilt) Chamberlain, and you see (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and you see Shaquille O'Neal, those are three pretty good centers. There was also Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Magic Johnson. You can debate the whole topic. ... Am I going to say that we selected (Russell) because we think that's the direction this league and the game is going? I don't think that's the case. You still need quality big men in this league, and if any of those players on the wall were available, we would have selected them.

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It is possible that Kupchak feels Cousins belongs in the same sentence as guys like Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar and Shaq, and if that is the case, then the door may still be open for a deal to get done.

That could be a tough sell to head coach Byron Scott, though, as he is a former guard who seemed ecstatic to have Russell in the fold following his selection, according to ESPN's Arash Markazi:

As things currently stand, Russell is in line to form a dynamic backcourt duo with the Kobe Bryant, which would then afford the Lakers the opportunity to address their frontcourt woes via free agency.

If it becomes clear that Los Angeles can't land someone like LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love or Marc Gasol, though, dealing a player of Russell's caliber may be the only option in terms of securing a top-flight big man. 

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