Lakers News: Analyzing Latest Draft-Day Trade Rumors and Potential Picks
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a rare position.
For just the fourth time since 1994, the Purple and Gold are slated to make a selection in the NBA draft lottery. However, with rumors flying at warp speed as draft day approaches, there's increasing speculation that the Lakers may wind up flipping the No. 2 overall pick in a deal that could land them an established superstar or bolster their arsenal of assets.
So as general manager Mitch Kupchak and his front office army prep for Thursday's proceedings, here are the latest rumblings from Hollywood.
DeMarcus Determined to Land in L.A.?
Monday night, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported "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."
On Tuesday, CBSSports.com's Ken Berger followed up with some new information regarding Cousins' preferred destination.
"Cousins' agent, Dan Fegan, would like to steer his client to the Lakers, who can offer Julius Randle and this year's No. 2 pick—though rival teams doubt the Kings would send Cousins to a division rival," Berger wrote.
As Berger mentions, envisioning Cousins making the short trek south to Los Angeles is a tad difficult considering the Lakers and Kings both compete in the Pacific Division.
Furthermore, the Kings don't appear to be in the market for players who will require the franchise to exercise patience as they work out developmental kinks.
According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Sacramento is targeting "established, veteran players" in a prospective deal, which would seem to rule out the possibility of L.A. doling out a package revolving around the No. 2 pick and Julius Randle, who played in just a portion of one game before missing his entire rookie season with a fractured right leg.
But perhaps the team's desperation could help facilitate a deal.
"We have to assume any potential package for Cousins would include L.A.'s No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's draft, along with last year's lottery selection, Julius Randle," Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes wrote. "Might as well throw Jordan Clarkson in there, too, plus anything else that's not bolted down at Staples Center."
Cousins' camp appears to be targeting a destination where the 24-year-old center can raise his profile while sliding into a role as a future franchise centerpiece. Last season, Cousins became the 19th player in league history to average at least 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists per game, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
The Lakers are searching for Kobe Bryant's successor as the Black Mamba enters the final stages of his career, and Cousins could represent the right man to step in and take his place. But if he can't, a lottery prospect like Jahlil Okafor or D'Angelo Russell won't be a shabby consolation.
Lakers Pondering a Move Back
The Lakers have been linked to Okafor for some time now, but the team appears to be toying with the idea of moving down while still emerging with the big man in tow.
According to Berger, L.A. could be interested in swapping picks with a fellow top-five lottery team in the name of asset collection:
"League sources say the Sixers want D'Angelo Russell and are willing to trade up from the No. 3 spot to get him. It would create an interesting opportunity for the Lakers, who could still get Jahlil Okafor and extract a future pick in the process. Among others, the Sixers control the Lakers' 2016 first-round pick, which is top-3 protected.
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Since the Lakers are shorthanded in the draft-pick department next year, swapping selections with the Philadelphia 76ers makes sense in theory. If the Sixers are set on taking Russell, then the Lakers could feasibly net Okafor at No. 3 and still snag one of the future first-round picks owed to Philly.
According to Real GM, Philadelphia owns its own 2016 first-rounder, the Lakers' top-three protected selection, the Miami Heat's top-10 protected pick in 2016 and the Oklahoma City Thunder's top-15 protected pick next year.
That's quite the stash.
But considering Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie has long been renowned for his determination to collect draft picks over the past two years, it would admittedly be a surprise to see him part with one of those coveted picks to move up just one spot.
L.A. Selling Off its Late 1st-Rounder?
If the Lakers are serious about maximizing Kobe Bryant's twilight, then adding impact players in free agency will be of the utmost importance.
Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the team is shopping the No. 27 overall pick in order to free up some cash, according to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler:
Since first-round picks are due guaranteed contracts and second-round picks enter the league with zero contractual guarantees, the Lakers' pursuit of further financial flexibility is a logical play.
According to BasketballInsiders.com, the Lakers are entering free agency with just a shade over $35 million in guaranteed contracts on the books, which leaves ample space available to sign players on the open market.
And with the 2015-16 salary cap expected to jump up to $67.1 million, according to DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony, Los Angeles should have the requisite space necessary to chase instant-impact contributors if it can part with the 27th pick it's owed from the Houston Rockets.
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