NBA Trade Rumors for Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Draft Picks: DeMarcus Cousins, No. 2 Spot

By Richard Waelty
LA Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak
What is in store for the team? ABC7

The Los Angeles Lakers may be interested in acquiring DeMarcus Cousins in a trade, according to unconfirmed information from the web. Meanwhile, the Lakers will soon take advantage of their number two spot on the NBA Draft Pick.

How Likely Will DeMarcus Cousins Be Traded?

On Wednesday, ESPN reported that anonymous sources had informed them about the Laker's most recent attempt to steal Cousins away from the Sacramento Kings. However, the publication noted that the Lakers have very little to offer beyond Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

The same ESPN sources alleged that the Lakers, Kings, and Orlando Magic were in a three-way exploratory dialogue. Even so, Kings general manager Vlade Divac strongly denied that such talks were taking placed.

"That is not happening, but I would love to do something, a smaller move, before the draft," Divac said to The Sacramento Bee. "We have a lot of changes to make. The league is much more up-tempo now, and we need more three-point shooting. If we don't get that in the draft, we'll be active in free agency and see about making trades later in the offseason."

Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive responded similarly in a statement to USA Today on Wednesday.

"We have zero interest in moving Cousins, so I don't know where that's coming from," Ranadive said when questioned about the late ESPN article.

In 2013, Cousins had signed a four-year maximum contract extension for an undisclosed sum. Web rumors suggest that the deal was worth about $62 million. Naturally, this information is unconfirmed.

Lakers NBA Draft Picks 2015: Who Will It Be?

With the 2015 NBA Draft Picks to begin on Thursday, the Lakers currently occupy the number two selection spot - immediately after the Minnesota Timberwolves.

According to Bleacher Report, Jahlil Okafor may be the Laker's more logical choice. The publication points out that the 19-year-old is prodigy on the basketball court. The Duke Center often employs the old-school "back-to-the-basket" approach. However, Okafor is not a great defender, and is lacking in his free throw. Even so, these things can easily be refined with good coaching.

One alternate pick is Ohio State Point Guard D'Angelo Russell, who is fast with the dribble and is quite skillful with the no-look pass.

Still, the Lakers may settle for Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia. The 7'11" forward will be playing in the shadow of European stars including Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol. It remains to be seen if Porzingis will be able to deliver on the same level of his predecessors.  

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