Recent rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers are planning to swap D'Angelo Russell for any of the other top-5 picks in the coming 2016 NBA Draft this week.

The Lakers possess the second overall selection of this year's draft, scheduled on Thursday night, and it looks like the team will choose Duke's Brandon Ingram with it as the Philadelphia 76ers are said to be locked in on LSU's Ben Simmons as the top pick.

Like Us on Facebook

However, speculations are out that Mitch Kupchak and company are also keen on acquiring either Providence point guard Kris Dunn or Croatia's Dragan Bender, two other potential top five selections this year, which is why they are willing to trade Russell for the picks of either the Boston Celtics (no. 3), Phoenix Suns (no. 4), or Minnesota Timberwolves (no. 5) before draft night.

Other NBA aspirants on the Lakers radar are said to be Oklahoma's Buddy Hield, California's Jaylen Brown, and Washington's Marquese Chriss, all of which would almost certainly be unavailable by the time LA get to their second pick of the draft at no. 32.

Lakers Nation noted that Russell is a potential trade bait because he "surely didn't endear himself to the locker room or many Lakers fans with the Nick Young video scandal that popped up late in the season".

The 20-year-old incoming sophomore would surely have a hard time, especially as a point guard, trying to lead a team that has trust issues against him. Besides, if the Lakers could get Dunn in the draft, then they may really not need Russell anymore and focus more on the development of Jordan Clarkson.

Meanwhile, CBS Sports acknowledged that Russell's struggles during his rookie season last year "had more to do with former Lakers coach Byron Scott yanking him in and out of the lineup than anything he did wrong".

Last year's second overall pick had shown in flashes that he is an above average pick-and-roll player at his age and experience and could also develop as one of the game's best shooters in the future so the Lakers should think long and hard before letting him go.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2016, Lakers Trade Rumors, Los Angeles Lakers, D'Angelo Russell