Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Reportedly Would Deal No. 1 Pick in 2016 NBA Draft

The NBA draft lottery is still two weeks away, but rumors are already swirling regarding what the Los Angeles Lakers will do with the No. 1 pick, should the pingpong balls bounce their way on May 17. 

Citing sources, Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd (via Drew Garrison of SB Nation's Silver Screen and Roll) reported Tuesday the Lakers will attempt to trade the top selection in this year's draft as a way to land an established star. 

"I've now been told by two separate sources, even if the Lakers get the No. 1 pick, they're trading it," Cowherd said on The Herd. "They don't want to rebuild anymore. They want to get a star NBA player. They will call teams if they get the No. 1 pick and shop it around the league."

Cowherd's complete remarks can be viewed below, courtesy of his show's official Twitter account: 

Before diving into the tantalizing trade possibilities that could emerge if the Lakers snag the No. 1 overall pick, it should be noted there's a not-so-insignificant chance L.A. won't retain its pick.

According to Tankathon.com, the Lakers have a 55.8 percent chance of picking in the top three and retaining the pick after finishing the regular season with the NBA's second-worst record (17-65).

However, that means there's a 44.2 percent chance the selection falls outside of picks Nos. 1-3 and is sent to the Philadelphia 76ers—who acquired the rights to the top-three protected selection in a 2015 trade deadline blockbuster with the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. 

Team	Record	Odds of 1st Pick	Odds of Top-3 Pick
Philadelphia 76ers	10-72	25.0%	64.3%
Los Angeles Lakers	17-65	19.9%	55.8%
Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)	21-61	15.6%	46.9%
Phoenix Suns	23-59	11.9%	37.8%
Minnesota Timberwolves	29-53	8.8%	29.1%

On the flip side, there's a 19.9 percent chance the Lakers will own the top pick in the draft. If the odds shake out in its favor, then L.A. will have a delectable asset to dangle in front of prospective trade partners. 

Because beyond the sheer fact that the pick could turn into the LSU Tigers' Ben Simmons or the Duke Blue Devils' Brandon Ingram, the No. 1 selection represents a cost-controlled asset. The Lakers may not be looking to engage in an arduous rebuild under new head coach Luke Walton. Another team could be intrigued by the possibility of parting with a high-priced star in exchange for a young stud who will be under team control and paid according to the league's rookie salary scale, per RealGM.com:

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4 Option	Year 5 Option
$4,919,300	$5,140,700	$5,362,100	26.1% increase over Year 3	30% increase over Year 4

However, this is all merely hypothetical for the time being.

The Lakers could still come up empty on lottery night and enter the 2016 draft with no first-round picks—in which case they'd be forced to scramble and determine other ways to try and expedite the developmental process in Year 1 under Walton. 

But if the Lakers are the beneficiaries of some good fortune, then they figure to hold plenty of bargaining power entering the most compelling night of the offseason.