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DeMarcus Cousins trade: 3 ways it helps Lakers

By Keith Rivas

Jan 6, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) and Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) go for a rebound in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Mavericks won 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Tarik Black (28) and Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) go for a rebound in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Mavericks won 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

A better direction

Last season, Los Angeles signed Timofey Mozgov to a bad contract. The last thing they could afford to do was fork over talent and draft picks to get another big man that could just leave after the season finishes.

The Lakers are in no position to fight for a championship, and it’s hard to even say that they’ll make a run for the playoffs because they won’t. Right now, even the bad teams in the Western Conference are better than them — that can only change from the inside.

If they had gone all out on DeMarcus Cousins, it would’ve become confusing as to what they want to build around.

Are they going for just superstars now? What about their young core?

All of those kinds of things would be running though fans’ heads. Thankfully, it didn’t happen.

What this means moving forward for the Lakers is that they must show more confidence in their other big men, Tarik Black and Ivica Zubac. With Mozgov not being productive or helpful, chances are that the Lakers will either try to deal him this year or let him go after the season is over.

If they’ve learned anything this year, it’s that there’s nothing wrong with depending on the younger players.

And that’s the only way they’ll ever get better.

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