DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : REUTERS)
Armed with assets and significant cap space, the Los Angeles Lakers could return to title contention in a blink of an eye, as many NBA insiders believe they are in position to come up with a colossal trade at draft night.
With roughly three weeks left before the 2015 NBA Draft, the Lakers have kept their cards close to their chest as to which college prospect they will select with the no.2 overall draft pick. While most of the mock drafts are pointing to either Duke's Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky's Karl Anthony Towns as their likely pick, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com indicated the Lakers are leaning towards getting Ohio State's point guard D'Angelo Russell instead.
"Away from the consensus, distanced from the assumptions, there is a logical case to be made for the Lakers to take Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell with the second pick in the June 25 Draft and not simply inherit the big man the Timberwolves do not take at No. 1," according to Howard-Cooper.
However, there's an assumption that the Lakers are still uncertain whether to use their best asset for an unproven rookie or include it in a package to land an established young star. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak even acknowledged that trading their top pick is not out of question, although it has to be a 'heck of an opportunity' for them to pull off such move.
Chad Ford of ESPN is also a believer that the Lakers would trade their lottery pick in a heartbeat if they are given the chance to add someone who could turn out to be the future face of the franchise.
"And while the Lakers have publicly said their keeping the pick, there's a growing feeling around the league that if they can land a young veteran for the pick, it's available. The Lakers aren't keen on rebuilding if they don't have to. But it would have to take an All-Star caliber young player to make the deal," Ford stressed.
Although there are several young players (Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard & Reggie Jackson) who easily meet such criteria, Ford has no doubt All-NBA center DeMarcus Cousins tops the list as the most-desired trade target.
The ESPN analyst added the Lakers are capable of presenting a trade offer that would blow the Kings front-office away. Ford speculated the Lakers trade package should include the no.2 overall pick, additional draft pick (likely the no. 27 or/and 34 picks), Jordan Hill and a young talent in Jordan Clarkson/Julius Randle.
While Cousins' attitude problem raised some red flags, the center is clearly the most dominant center in the league since Shaquille O'Neal, averaging 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 34 minutes per game.
The Kings haven't made any significant progress the past two seasons despite changes on the top level management, coaching staff and the roster, while Cousins are increasingly growing frustrated with the situation. By landing the no.6 overall pick in the draft, the Kings can add another outstanding prospect to play alongside Cousins prospect or start another rebuild altogether by trading the center in exchange for the Lakers high-pick and multiple assets.
The Lakers will have other options other than the coup to acquire Cousins, but there's no other realistic trade scenario out there more intriguing than having Boogie wear purple-and-gold next season.
