The Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers are struggling teams trying to overcome playoff droughts for the past years. This 2016-2017 NBA season is another opportunity to change that but it seems that the playoff hopes for these teams have died. NBA trade speculations have it that a possible trade for the three teams could improve their chances of getting into the playoffs.
The scenario would be DeMarcus Cousins going to the 76ers, Joel Embiid to the Lakers and Julius Randle to the Kings. It's a wild trade that's for from happening, but if it would, this NBA trade speculation is a valid trade under NBA rules as per ESPN NBA trade machine.
According to ESPN, "Boogie" doesn't want to be traded but he's been involved in a lot of NBA trade speculations simply because the Kings aren't winning with him. If there's a team that he'd fit in, it would be the Sixers. Cousins would have a talented passer and scorer in Ben Simmons and an intense defender in Jahlil Okafor. The team could become a playoff contender in two to three years.
The Sixers would obviously part ways with Nerlens Noel but that's another story. If Cousins goes to the Sixers, the team needs to unload another big man and it could be Embiid. According to CBS Sports, he's slowly rising to superstardom and would start the center position again on Wednesday's game against the Raptors. It would be a problem to have Cousins and Embiid play together so a possible destination for Embiid would be the Lakers where he could open up lanes for D'Angelo Russel and Jordan Clarkson as a stretch big.
Randle has been involved in some NBA trade speculations recently so if the Kings would trade Cousins, Randle is the best replacement. He's a better passer than Cousins and could make plays in transition. Overall, he's is just a better fit for the Kings compared to Cousins.
These NBA trade speculations might not happen and these three teams wouldn't even think of it in the first place. But it would definitely change the whole structure for each team if it would happen.
