The Los Angeles Lakers are apparently in the middle of their rebuilding phase, and the dust is yet to settle down for the team. Many sports critics believe that if it doesn't get a grip soon, the LA team might just turn out to be among the worst teams in the Western Conference next season. But, among the possible trades that the Lakers might pull off, one rumor strongly points to roping in DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings.
The rumor has its roots in a question and answer segment that took place on Twitter. When a fan asked the basketball star what his favorite NBA team had been growing up, Cousins responded with a tweet that said, "Favorite team growing up was the Lakers." This sparked off rumors that the star might be joining his beloved team.
This isn't the first time that this rumor has cropped up among basketball fans. However, as Sportsrageous mentions, the general manager of the Sacramento Kings, Vlade Divac, confirmed several times that he wasn't losing the Kings' superstar to any other team. As for what Cousins wants, there seems to be no apparent statement that supports any intention to move out of the Sacramento team.
If such a trade does come to pass, the Lakers can buy in Cousins by offering a combination of their young talents. That includes D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram.
In other reports, such as the one on Parent Herald, the Lakers could end up with around $13 million cap space. They are likely to use this to their advantage, and to push for a trade that brings them the Boston Celtics' star Amir Johnson. With Johnson's contract with the Celtics due for expiry, it remains to be seen whether the Boston team will opt for a contract renewal, or whether they choose to trade him off for other players.
