Los Angeles Lakers power forward Julius Randle. (Photo : Reuters)
Recent reports regarding the botched summer trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings that includes sophomore power forward Julius Randle and All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins have re-surfaced weeks before the new NBA season opens.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Lakers-Kings negotiations a day before the 2015 NBA draft and a week before the free-agency period opened. The proposed deal reportedly consisted of Cousins in exchange for Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and the Lakers no. 2 pick, which ended up being D'Angelo Russell.
Kings head coach George Karl was allegedly the mastermind behind the summer Cousins trade talks as he and his prized player were said to be not seeing eye-to-eye at that time.
Karl was purportedly ready to transform the half-court set, slow ball Kings that former coach Mike Malone developed into a fast-paced, high-octane offensive crew that he used to run in Denver with Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried, which was another reason why he wanted to ship the 25-year-old All-Star.
Cousins was never known to play that way as his size, strength, and versatility is a matchup problem at the half court. But now, all seems already well between the coach and his franchise player.
Meanwhile, the Lakers were looking for a major addition last summer that would instantly put them into title contention again and Cousins was one of their options that also included LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, and Kevin Love.
Apparently, Mitch Kupchak had never really intended to incorporate Randle in any trade negotiations this offseason, according to NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk.
However, the report insinuated that the Lakers may just want to increase the power forward's trade value, because if they wouldn't trade him for Cousins then "other potential trade partners targeting Randle would have to offer even more" or they may just want to build his confidence going into the new season.
Still, the verdict is that the Lakers will keep Randle and not negotiate for Cousins anymore, especially that the no. 2 selection turned out to be Russell, who is reportedly the receiver of Kobe Bryant's baton after he retires.
