The Los Angeles Lakers are in rumor headlines once again as reports went out that the Hollywood franchise is planning to trade their "young core" for "multiple free agents" next summer to speed up the team's rebuilding process now that Kobe Bryant is sure to retire at the end of the season.

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Citing "The Herd" host Colin Cowherd, Lakers Nation's Dan Duangdao disclosed that the Lakers are intending to trade three of their young stars, presumably sophomore sensation Jordan Clarkson, second overall pick D'Angelo Russell, and 27th overall selection Larry Nance Jr., for one or two established superstars while keeping Julius Randle in the squad.

"The Lakers would trade three of them. They'd like to keep Julius Randle. They'd move the other three to rebuild it with multiple free agents and Randle's the only one they really truly believe is ready very quickly to be on a really good NBA team," the website posted.

Duangdao mentioned that Lakers EVP Jim Buss had repeatedly said that "he will step down in a couple of seasons if the Lakers are not back in contention", and so it was speculated that team officials will do everything they can to put the franchise back on top as soon as possible.

The report also said that "with a top-three protected pick and approximately $65 million in cap space" upon Bryant's departure, the Lakers are more likely to snatch top-caliber free agents or even some of the best players around the league, such as Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins.

Yahoo Sports indicated in June that the Kings and Lakers had negotiated for a potential deal that would bring Cousins to L.A. in exchange for Randle, Clarkson, and the no.2 pick, which turned out to be Russell, but things went south when things began to lighten up between head coach George Karl and Boogie.

Meanwhile, Sports World Report recently noted that Durant is going to be the Lakers' number one target next summer especially after Bryant's humungous $25 million salary is removed from the team's cap space.

Tags Lakers rumors, Lakers Trade Rumors, Los Angeles Lakers, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson