NBA Trade Rumors: D'Angelo Russell And Jahlil Okafor Swap? Sacramento Kings Still Looking For Takers For DeMarcus Cousins?

The Los Angeles Lakers took a lot of hit as D'Angelo Russell was off to a slow start while Jahlil Okafor, the center they bypassed at the draft, is leading all rookies in scoring.

Now Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider have kicked off the NBA trade rumors by discussing the possibility that both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers would have been better off swapping D'Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor.

Chad Ford said that Jahlil Okafor has been playing as advertised by dominating offensively, but lagging behind on the defensive end.

But what worries Chad Ford more is how compatible Jahlil Okafor is with the Sixers' roster.

"On a roster that includes Noel and Embiid, and would seem to want to play fast, it's not clear how Okafor fits for the long term," he said.

Ford added, "And there might be a team or two out there where Okafor fits better. I especially wonder about the Lakers. D'Angelo Russell has been a tough fit in LA. The Lakers flipped from Okafor to Russell the night of the draft. Would the two teams consider swapping the two players? That would effectively be a draft-night trade, a few months later."

That seemingly innocuous statement kickstarted the NBA trade rumors involving the Lakers and the Sixers with their prized rookies, D'Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor.

Meanwhile, the NBA trade rumors are still buzzing about DeMarcus Cousins being shipped out by the Sacramento Kings because of his behavior.

According to Bleacher Report, although the talent of DeMarcus Cousins could not be denied, the managers and coaches are all wary of his behavior on the court.

Nobody is taking DeMarcus Cousins because "he's viewed as damaged goods."

"Ask around the league," Tyler Conway wrote. |If you throw a stat sheet in front of any executive's face and ask if he or she can build a franchise around this player, the answer would be an unequivocal 'yes.' Ask executives if they'd sacrifice a handful of lottery picks, and you'd get the same answer."