Brandon Ingram (Photo : Getty Images/Sean M. Haffey)
The Los Angeles Lakers will have a chance to land the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and select a top prospect vital in the revival of the historic franchise. However, the latest rumors suggest that the Lakers are not interested in continuing the rebuilding process and trade their 2016 first-round pick for an established NBA star.
The fate of many rebuilding NBA teams will be known in the upcoming 2016 NBA draft lottery on May 17 in New York City. The Philadelphia 76ers have the best odds of landing the top selection with a 25 percent chance, followed by the Lakers with 19.9 percent.
Los Angeles also have a 55.8 percent chance of landing a top-three pick in this year's draft that could be used in a trade package along with some of its young assets. The team has players like D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr.
The Lakers are in rebuilding mode since the 2013-14 and is looking for their next superstar. Longtime Lakers player, Kobe Bryant, retired at the end of the current season.
Nonetheless, Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports noted his show The Herd that the Lakers are not looking for a longer rebuilding process and are willing to trade their first-round pick even if they land the No. 1 selection.
"I've now been told by two separate sources, even if the Lakers get the No. 1 pick they're trading it. 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 said.
"I've been told by 2 separate sources -- even if the Lakers get the No. 1 pick, they're trading it." - @ColinCowherdhttps://t.co/kHG6mV9TPP
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 3, 2016
According to Draft Express, Brandon Ingram of Duke University and Ben Simmons of Louisiana State University are the top two prospects in the upcoming NBA draft. Any of those two rookies packaged with a combination of the Lakers' young core is enough to land a superstar via trade.
Some of the names that will be mentioned in trade rumors this offseason include Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If the Lakers can pull off a trade, they can also sign a big name in free agency this summer and instantly become playoff contenders. Some of the stars set to become free agents after the season are Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James of the Cavaliers, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors.
Check the video below for Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak's thoughts on the 2016 NBA draft and the possibility of trading the team's young core.
