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Los Angeles Lakers: Should They Still Trade For DeMarcus Cousins?

By Nathan Grubel

April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Waiting has never been a thing in the Los Angeles Lakers organization. The Lakers have always been involved in winning, a big reason why they have the second-most championship banners in the league behind only the Boston Celtics.

A rebuild to them is more of a reload if you will. The team may lose talent, but they are quick to replace that talent on the fly instead of build at a slower pace through the draft and wait for talent to develop itself.

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The Lakers have always been big players in the trade market and in free agency, and this year appears to be no different as they have their eyes set on a few prized free agent big men including LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan.

However, there’s another big name out there that they may still be able to trade for if they wish to, and his name is DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins is still only 24 years old, yet he was able to average 24.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the field.

Cousins is one of the most offensively skilled big men in the league today, as his large frame makes him a handful down low, yet he can step out and hit a mid-range jump shot to stretch the defense if needed.

It’s important for a center to have a reliable post game with a few go-to moves, which Cousins has, but what he can do with the ball in his hands in terms of facing his man up should not be possible for someone his size.

Cousins can take his man off the dribble and show no mercy in the halfcourt, and he’s shown proficiency at bringing the ball down the floor and either finishing coast-to-coast or making plays for his teammates in transition.

There aren’t many players taller than 6-foot-9 that can do that in the NBA, let alone someone with Cousins’ size. He’s truly a special talent, even if he hasn’t proven to be a special player on the defensive end.

He has the athleticism to be a difference maker on that end of the floor, but he hasn’t proven to be a dynamite shot blocker or game-changing talent, which is OK because with his ability to command the double team on offense he opens up the game for so many of his teammates to contribute at a high level.

The Lakers have had a tradition of having a dominant big man on the roster going back to the Wilt Chamberlain days, and that may not change according to the latest reports that the team is in fact still pursuing a trade for the Sacramento Kings stud.

The problem with these talks is that even though the Lakers would be willing to send new draft talent D’Angelo Russell to the Kings for Cousins, Sacramento wants much more than that in return. This could mean parting ways with one or both of Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson along with future draft considerations.

For a team that doesn’t have any young talent outside of those three players, that’s a lot to give up for one player even if he is a franchise-changing center. Kobe Bryant wants to win in what is presumed to be his last season in the league, but should he really be telling the Lakers to pull the trigger on a deal that could seriously harm their future?

Now if the Lakers could still go out and sign a marquee free agent to play alongside Bryant and Cousins, then that could be a different story, as the Lakers would have two established stars moving forward after Bryant’s retirement.

However, if that’s not the case, then I wouldn’t do this deal and give up an incredible amount of young talent. Clarkson played well when he got the time last year, and Russell is projected to be a star guard in the mold of James Harden and Stephen Curry.

Randle was injured for almost the entire season last year, so we don’t really know what we can expect out of him, but he is a strong power forward who rebounds well and can handle the ball and run the floor. He has plenty of athleticism to tap into, so his potential is still sky-high as well.

Unless I can get a promise from a top free agent, I’m not doing this deal. Don’t compromise your future for one year, Los Angeles. Build for the future as well, not just the present.

Next: Why D'Angelo Russell Was The Perfect Pick

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