The Los Angeles Lakers posted the fourth-worst record in the NBA last season — a position to which the storied franchise isn’t accustomed.
Dwyane Wade and DeMarcus Cousins could fix that problem.
Wade and the Lakers have mutual interest in each other, league sources told SI’s Chris Mannix, and the team is actively trying to acquire Cousins from the Sacramento Kings, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reported, also citing league sources.
Adding the All-Stars won’t be easy for the Lakers, though.
Wade and the Miami Heat, for which the point guard has played his entire 12-year NBA career, plan to meet within the next week to iron out their contract differences, ESPN reported, citing multiple sources. Wade must decide by next Monday whether to opt in for $16.1 million — a lot of money to leave on the table — or become an unrestricted free agent.
Cousins might not even be on the market, although ESPN reported the Kings, Lakers and Orlando Magic “have had exploratory dialogue” on a three-way trade that would send the promising young center to L.A. Vlade Divac, a former Kings and Lakers player who’s now the vice president in Sacramento, told The Sacramento Bee’s Ailene Voisin that a Cousins trade “is not happening.” Besides, if Cousins indeed is available, teams such as the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets will provide competition for the Lakers, ESPN noted.
It appears the Lakers are dreaming big while trying to pull themselves back into contention for one final Kobe Bryant ride. But, at this point, the idea of Wade and Cousins wearing the purple and gold likely is just that — a dream.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images
