LA Lakers Rumors: Lakers Plans Revealed For Second Overall Pick In 2016 NBA Draft – DeMarcus Cousins Traded To Lakers

The LA Lakers are trying to keep everyone guessing as to what they’re going to do with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Some think they’re going to use it to draft Duke’s Brandon Ingram or Benjamin Simmons out of LSU. Others believe they will trade it away for some veteran players such as Paul George or DeMarcus Cousins or a host of others. Now, it appears as if their plans are finally known, but will they stick with them?

Recently, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said that the team had no immediate plans to trade away the pick, but they are willing to listen to offers. The official NBA website is reporting that there are actually very few who expect the Lakers to move the pick since it took a lot for them to lock down that high of a selection in the first place.

It’s all going to boil down to which players will be available to them via a trade, but it would be very hard to pass up drafting Simmons or Ingram.

If the Lakers reveal that they are going to hold onto the second pick and want to draft Benjamin Simmons, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Philadelphia 76ers to take him. Should the Lakers say they want Brandon Ingram, the 76ers could squash those dreams as well since they’re picking number one overall.

It’s not that drafting either of those players would be disappointing, but the Lakers aren’t stupid. They’re not going to let their true plans and future intentions apparent so another team can try to shoot them down.

Sources: Los Angeles Lakers will bring in Andrew Andrews for a workout Friday. He led the Pac-12 in scoring averaging 20.9 points per game.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 18, 2016

For now, the second overall pick is the biggest concern, but the Lakers are already making plans for the No. 32 pick as well. It’s quite possible that they may end up looking to add some more picks via trade or lose the second round pick to bring in another veteran player.

Paul George is a name that has been tossed around in trade rumors for the Lakers, but other players are starting to become included.

According to Hall of Fame Mag, the Lakers could end up going after Sacramento Kings’ big man DeMarcus Cousins. Last season, there were rumors of him being traded to Los Angeles for months, but nothing ever ended up happening. Many feel as if he would now stay put with the Kings since George Karl is gone, but that’s not definite.

Cousins recently described the Lakers as “very talented,” but they are a very young team without a lot of veteran leadership. Not only could Cousins be the dominant force the Lakers need in the lane, but he could be a great leader and teacher for players such as Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

The Lakers are going to have a lot of money to spend in NBA free agency this summer, but that second overall draft pick is the kicker. It could bring the Lakers an extremely valuable young talent, or it could be used to bring some veteran players in for the starting line-up.

Even if the LA Lakers know what they plan to do with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, they’re not likely to let those plans known. They are going to keep people guessing and see what offers may come their way from other teams around the league. It’s a very valuable asset as would be Benjamin Simmons or Brandon Ingram, but DeMarcus Cousins has a lot going for him as well. The Lakers are in an enviable position but have a big decision to make.

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