Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak on Friday dismissed the idea that the team's front office would consider trading a top-three selection in the 2016 NBA[1] draft. While appearing on the Thompson and Trudell[2] radio show on ESPN710 in Los Angeles, Kupchak said he "chuckled" when reading rumors that the Lakers could trade the pick in hopes of acquiring an established superstar. "I'm superstitious enough that I'm not going to look to do something or take something for granted before we have it," Kupchak said, per Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. This comes despite Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd insisting Tuesday that Los Angeles would trade a top pick: "I've been told by 2 separate sources -- even if the Lakers get the No. 1 pick, they're trading it." - @ColinCowherdhttps://t.co/kHG6mV9TPP[4][5] The Lakers have a 19.9 percent chance[7] to land the top overall selection and a 55.8 percent chance to pick within the top three. The Lakers may be intrigued by big-time free agents like Toronto's DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant[8], and Kupchak acknowledged that his organization is more attractive to free agents this season, according to the Orange County Register's Bill Oram: Kupchak on free agency: "You learn something every year" and in last year's "Lakers didn't have as much to sell as we have this year." Including a top draft pick in a class that features potential stars in Duke's Brandon Ingram and LSU's Ben Simmons would certainly help bring in top-flight players. Ailene Voisin[10] of the Sacramento Bee reported that the Sacramento Kings could be open to trading center DeMarcus Cousins[11], who CBS Sports' Matt Moore[12] believes could wind up in Los Angeles. However, keeping the pick and continuing to build through the draft is the right call here. With promising young players like Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle already in the fold, the best option is creating more continuity and chemistry within the lineup so the team can grow together under new head coach Luke Walton. The league's top teams, including Golden State, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, all followed this approach with enviable success. Kupchak is an intelligent and experienced team builder; expect him to stick to his word. Lottery odds courtesy of Tankathon.com[13].
[3]
References
- ^ NBA (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Thompson and Trudell (espn.go.com)
- ^ Serena Winters (twitter.com)
- ^ @ColinC owherd (twitter.com)
- ^ https://t.co/kHG6mV9TPP (t.co)
- ^ May 3, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ 19.9 percent chance (www.tankathon.com)
- ^ Kevin Durant (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ May 6, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ Ailene Voisin (www.sacbee.com)
- ^ DeMarcus Cousins (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Matt Moore (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Tankathon.com (www.tankathon.com)
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