The NBA Draft is officially over and yet there are still a slew of questions regarding the future of DeMarcus Cousins with the Sacramento Kings. The center and head coach George Karl are reportedly not on good terms while the team's front office intends to keep Cousins as a franchise player. However, drafting Willie Cauley-Stein certainly throws a wrench into that plan. So with Cousins potentially still sitting on the trade market, could the Lakers acquire the center?
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Lakers would trade D'Angelo Russell if it got them Cousins. With the No.2 pick in the draft, the Lakers selected Russell saying that he was simply a player that they could not afford to pass up on. Well that might no longer be the case as sources report the Lakers are still hunting for a trade of Cousins even if it costs them the point guard in return. The Kings do need point guard help and getting a young player like Russell is not a bad option.
The Lakers have been in talks with the Kings since before the draft, Originally Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported the Lakers were willing to send the No.2 pick plus Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle to the Kings in return for the center. The Lakers could still put together a favorable package of someone like Russell and potentially include a player like Nick Young who has been on the chopping block. The clock is ticking for Sacramento to either invest or let go of Cousins and the Lakers will be ready to make a move if it is the later.
A trade of Russell likely will not happen any time soon as the Lakers begin to search through other free agency options. Jimmy Butler is making it clear that he would prefer to head out west in free agency as he becomes a restricted free agent with the Chicago Bulls. Mark Medina of the LA Times is reporting that Butler wants a one-year deal with the Lakers in order to capitalize off the expanded salary caps next season. The chances the Bulls match any offer are high.
One player not interested in joining the Los Angeles Lakers is Marc Gasol as the LA Times is reporting he has no interest in the franchise after seeing how his brother Pau Gasol's career went in his final seasons with the team. Gasol was not happy with the way his brother was treated and will not be signing a contract with them. That will leave deals for Greg Monroe, DeAndre Jordan and LaMarcus Aldridge as priorities.
