So maybe it plays out his way. If the Lakers feel they can sign a big FA, then they will be in the win-now mode, not developing around draft picks. Trade for Cousins, sign Durant and DeRozan, and they are immediately back in business. Probably this is their Plan A.
The tricky part is timing. The lottery and draft happen before they know for sure who they will be able to sign. So do you trade for Cousins and hope for the best? Do you make the pick and then do the trade only after you sign the star you want?
I guess it is not a big surprise that LA would want to get better now by trading the pick. And they probably can get Cousins if they want to. They wiffed on LaMarcus Aldridge though and Durant doesn't seem like the LA type either. Imagine if they trade the pick and end up with Cousins and only DeRozan. That may not be a playoff team.