NBA Trade Rumors: Updates on Potential Blockbuster Deals

If there are to be any blockbuster trades in the coming days, they will almost certainly involve the upcoming NBA draft on Thursday. This year's draft just feels like it could have a major deal or two before everything is said and done.

Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks, for instance, might consider trading their picks for veteran stars who would improve their rosters immediately. The Philadelphia 76ers are always a mystery and always unpredictable. Another team could emerge and shake up the draft.

But to this point, the Knicks remain the most likely to move their No. 4 pick, especially after the following report emerged from Al Iannazzone of Newsday:

"

But unless one of the projected top three players -- Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor or D'Angelo Russell -- falls, it wouldn't be surprising if the Knicks traded the pick.

"If you're the Knicks, you're probably looking to deal the pick," a league source said. "If I'm them, I'm actively looking to see what we can get for the pick. Actively."

All indications are that the Knicks are doing just that.

"

Here's one interesting (and totally speculative) scenario: the Sixers trading Nerlens Noel to the Knicks for the No. 4 pick. The Knicks would get the low-post player they desperately need and likely lost the opportunity to draft once they fell to No. 4 in the lottery. The Sixers could, feasibly, select D'Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis with their two picks.

The former would give them the guard and scorer they badly need. The latter seems likely to be a better fit next to Joel Embiid than Noel would be, even if Embiid (recovering from foot surgery) doesn't play until 2016-17—which is when Dario Saric (No. 12 pick in 2014 draft) will likely join the team as well. The Sixers hardly seem concerned about trading away somewhat-proven players for assets, after all.

The Lakers, like the Knicks, could end up springing for a veteran player. One interesting name to consider is DeMarcus Cousins, per Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

"

The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as one of the most determined trade suitors for Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN that the Lakers have been actively pursuing trade scenarios in recent weeks in attempt to construct a deal that would convince the Kings to part with Cousins.

"

One such scenario, per Stein, would involve the Orlando Magic as the third team in the deal, potentially with Nikola Vucevic heading to Sacramento. One would guess the Lakers would be surrendering their No. 2 pick in that scenario, though it seems like a long shot that the Kings would part ways with Cousins.

For starters, general manager Vlade Divac previously responded to rumors suggesting that the Kings might trade Cousins by telling Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee, "That is not happening." 

So there's that.

Sam Amick of USA Today has another reason or two why this may not go down:

And the rumors surrounding the team have suggested that the Kings will also be looking to add a veteran player at the draft, per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated:

Still, if the Lakers aren't sold on Jahlil Okafor—or perhaps Russell—finding a way to cut a deal for a veteran, known commodity like Cousins would make a ton of sense. It would also make the team more appealing for any potential free agents and perhaps spark a fast rebuild in Los Angeles.

One would guess Kobe Bryant and Co. would fully support that.