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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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December 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) controls the ball against the New York Knicks during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) controls the ball against the New York Knicks during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Temptation to trust the process

On top of this whole scenario with Cousins testing their trust in the big men they have, it also gave them the chance to show if they really trust the process.

After picking up talents such as D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram in back-to-back drafts second overall, Los Angeles could have sent them somewhere else but they didn’t,

More specifically, the Lakers stood firm when Sacramento demanded that Ingram be part of a potential deal for Cousins. It came down to the point where it was Ingram or nothing.

By not choosing the latter, Los Angeles not only helped the direction of their team, as previously mentioned, but also the decision making of the front office.

With Magic Johnson doing everything he can to gain more control of the team’s decisions, it was something that the others involved couldn’t mess up.

Ingram hasn’t been magnificent in his rookie season, but like Russell is showing promise.

Regardless of how you feel about either of them, the reality is that the Lakers were smart to trust the process when a trade presented itself.

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