DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : REUTERS)
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak stressed that he would not consider trading their no.2 overall pick unless he's offered a 'heck of opportunity' to improve the lineup by leaps and bounds. But what if the Sacramento Kings top-honchos wake up one day and decide to offer DeMarcus Cousins to the Lakers in exchange for the top-2 pick, would the Lakers budge?
In an interview with Orange County Register writer Bill Oram, Kupchak said he's not ruling out the prospect of dealing their no.2 pick, along with the opportunity of picking big man Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and JaHill Okafor of Duke, but any trade proposal should include an established veteran, if not a bonifide star, to gain traction.
"It would have to be a heck of an opportunity for us to consider doing something like that," Kupchak cautioned after the Lakers held pre-draft workouts for six players who could be selected in the second round.
"If you came across something that made your team better quicker, it would probably be a veteran, then that's something you would consider," Kupchak said, "but there's something to be said for having the No. 2 pick in terms of building going forward."
From sign-and-trade scenario to get LaMarcus Aldridge from the Portland Trail Blazers to snagging Carmelo Anthony from New York Knicks, a number of trade scenarios are already hovering around, and most of these are about how the Lakers can maximize the value of their top pick.
Bleacher Report writer Ehran Khan has a feeling the Lakers would be in prime position to get DeMarcus Cousins if his relationship with the Sacramento Kings falls apart. Cousins, who made it in his first All-Star and All-NBA 2nd Team selection after averaging 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, has emerged as the most dominant player at the center position since Shaquille O'Neal, but the Kings' failure to give him a talented personnel around him could lead to his exit.
Cousins often voiced out his frustrations on the lack of urgency coming from the Kings management to improve the roster. Many analysts event think the former Kentucky standout is a disgruntled star waiting to happen, if the Kings continue to have a passive approach in their rebuilding plan.
On the other hand, new head coach George Karl isn't even considering any player on the roster untouchable from trades, including Cousins who has a tendency to get into verbal spat with previous coaches.
The prospect of getting a flat-out superstar center Cousins would be the heck of opportunity Kupchak has been looking for. Right now, chances of seeing Cousins wearing purple-and-gold uniform is pretty slim, but Khan believes a trade of this magnitude cannot be even predicted. Just like the trade that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, It just happens out of nowhere.
