LA Lakers Trade Rumors: Draft Pick Trade For DeMarcus Cousins?
LA Lakers trade rumors indicate an effort to deal the No. 2 pick for DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers have the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, an asset that could make the team respectable again. On Thursday (June 25) ESPN was reporting during Sportscenter that the team could send that draft pick to the Sacramento Kings in a trade for Cousins. A report on ESPN.com confirms that thought process, with the Lakers forced to decide whether Jahlil Okafor or DeMarcus Cousins is best for the future of the franchise.
The kicker is that this Lakers-Kings trade doesn’t even have to take place before or during the 2015 NBA Draft. If the Kings really want to acquire Jahlil Okafor in an effort to build for the future, the team will continue trade talks with the Lakers into the weekend. The key for both franchises, though, is that a deal needs to get done before the NBA free agency period begins in July. At that point, the Lakers will want to focus on signing one of the big names available on the open market if the Kings start to waver in negotiations.
As previously reported on the Inqusitr, the Sacramento Kings are considered a team in turmoil. Head coach George Karl has appeared to be on a different page than that of All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, creating a situation that might need to change. The front office has to either side with its coach or the star player, but this isn’t a scenario that often ends well for a member of the coaching staff. If the Kings can figure out a way to acquire Jahlil Okafor, a player that most NBA analysts say has star potential, that might be a huge “win” for the front office.
LA Lakers trade rumors seem to indicate the team has interest in every player that is either being shopped by his team or is ready to head into free agency. That is certainly the case, though, because the Lakers have so much cap space that can get used during the NBA offseason. The only major salary left on the team belongs to Kobe Bryant, meaning they could bring in two players to team up with Bryant and second-year player Julius Randle.
After being in the luxury tax penalty during the 2014-15 NBA season, the Lakers now have freedom to spend money again. The team owes about $35.9 million in salaries for the coming season, showing how easily it would be to absorb the contract of DeMarcus Cousins. As for whether or not these latest LA Lakers trade rumors will play out as advertised, that appears to be up to the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers want to compete with Cousins right now, and the Kings could come out ahead if Okafor turns out to be a superstar.
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