L.A. Lakers 2016 trade rumors: Team to lose D'Angelo Russell to Utah Jazz but gain Brandon Ingram from draft?

LA Lakers

According to Bleacher Report, the L.A. Lakers may be looking into giving up D'Angelo Russell, who is currently the number 2 overall pick in the NBA, to the Utah Jazz. According to the report, the Lakers may be willing to let go of one of their highest-rated players to grab both Gordon Hayward and David Favors from the Jazz.

Ecumenical News points out that the trade will give the Lakers a chance to fill in the holes in their current team lineup, ensuring that the other key players no longer have to play double roles while on the hardfloor. This will also ensure that Jordan Clarkson can focus entirely on his duties as the team's main point guard. 

Hayward is also noted as a potential player to become the Lakers' main scorer while Favors is a suitable defensive player. While the two may not immediately raise the capabilities of the Lakers to win another championship the report does point out that it may help them earn a spot in the playoffs. 

As for the Utah Jazz, this may give the team the big-name superstar that they have been lacking for the past couple of years. The Jazz have notably declined since the late 1990s and have yet to regain the star power that placed them up in the playoffs where they once battled the LA Lakers and the Chicago Bulls.

Other than the possible trades, a separate tidbit from Bleacher Report reveals that the Lakers are intending to pick up Brandon Ingram from the drafts. Ingram initially played for the Duke Blue Devils and is currently the newcomer that the Lakers are most interested in.

However, Inquisitr reports that the Lakers might give up their pick in order to trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are allegedly interested in giving Jahlil Okafor for the Lakers' pick. It is undetermined at this point if the Lakers will choose picking up Ingram or giving this opportunity away to grab Okafor.