The Los Angeles Lakers have been exploring all options heading into the 2015 NBA Draft and free agency that follows shortly. Blockbuster trade scenarios haven’t been ruled out as a possibility for the storied franchise and the one name continues to be linked to the Lakers is DeMarcus Cousins.
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According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Lakers are attempting to put together a trade package in order to acquire Cousins from the division rival Sacramento Kings:
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.
The Kings have been reluctant to get involved in trade talks for their face of the franchise, but the Lakers might be able to convince their division rivals to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal.
Apparently, a three-way deal between the Kings, Lakers, and Orlando Magic appears to be gaining steam, via Stein:
Sources say that the Lakers, Kings and Orlando Magic have had exploratory dialogue on a three-way Cousins trade that would land the 24-year-old in Los Angeles. All three teams hold top-six picks in Thursday’s NBA draft, and Orlando has a young top-flight center of its own in Nikola Vucevic, who could theoretically fill the Cousins void.
With limited trade assets, the Lakers may be forced to give up Julius Randle and the second overall pick in Thursday’s draft in order to acquire Cousins. Randle’s name was mentioned when Rajon Rondo was on the trading block last season, but the Lakers weren’t willing to send him to the Boston Celtics in exchange for the veteran point guard.
It’ll be interesting to see where this latest trade rumor goes with the draft only a few days away. Although many have anticipate Jahlil Okafor playing alongside Randle next season in Los Angeles, the outcome could be much different if the Kings eventually come around on the prospect of trading their best player to a division rival.
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