It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers are rebuilding right now following the retirement of superstar Kobe Bryant last season. They've been busy this offseason on possible trades to upgrade their roster and revive their glorious days as a franchise.
As the NBA Training Camp is about to begin and the 2016-2017 season is to start just a month from now, the Lakers are exploring their options on the trade market. They've acquired the services of forward Luol Deng from the Miami Heat and center Timofey Mozgov from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason through free agency. They also re-signed guard Jordan Clarkson this summer, who gave an impressive performance last season.
As of the moment, trade rumors are building around the team before the deadline, one of which is the trade speculation involving Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins and Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler. According to Sportsrageous, the Lakers are loaded with young players such as Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and rookie Brandon Ingram, which they could use as trade baits. The report also says that the Kings previously chased Russell and this might be the opportunity to get Cousins.
As for Bulls, they have yet to see if the trio of Butler, Dwayne Wade, and Rajon Rondo will connect this coming season. And if not, they might consider trading Butler to the Lakers in exchange for D'Angelo Russell or Jordan Clarkson.
Parent Herald also reported that the Chicago Bulls tried to part ways with Butler by trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kris Dunn. However, the deal was unsuccessful. It is also rumored that the Bulls worked to move Butler to the Kings in exchange for Cousins and Rudy Gay but talks didn't prosper.
An earlier report also says that Cousin and Gay were also in a trade rumor to move them to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson. However, both the Kings and Cousins snubbed the idea.
Nevertheless, all of this remain as speculations until the teams involved make their respective moves to make this happen.
