Lakers to teams: D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram are untouchable in NBA Trade Deadline deals

The Los Angeles Lakers front office is the most active it's been in years closer to the NBA Trade Deadline. And while Mitch Kupchak & Co have engaged in talks for superstars DaMarcus Cousins and Jimmy Butler this past week, they're dead set on not including D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram, their most coveted assets, in any trade packages.

After its refusal to part with Ingram during a potential DeMarcus Cousins trade, the Lakers reportedly offered a package of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Lou Williams for a potential Jimmy Butler trade, according to Mike Adamle of NBC Chicago. Adamle also noted in a tweet Monday night: "Lakers are refusing to part with Russell and Ingram (for Butler, Cousins or any other All-Star). Making it very difficult to find a solid trade with CHI (Bulls) or ANY team. Still in discussion."

Earlier reports indicated that the Lakers were offering the Kings the trio of Williams, Randle and the 2017 first-round draft pick (top-3 protected) for Cousins last weekend. However, the Kings front office, led by Vlade Divac, put an end to the discussions courtesy of Kupchak's reluctance to include Ingram in talks. The Lakers could potentially have landed either Cousins or Butler this week, but its stubbornness to hold onto Ingram points to the faith that rookie head coach Luke Walton has in the lanky 19-year-old.

Lakers believe Ingram, Russell will be all-stars

The Lakers is hopeful that Ingram and Russell, the last few No. 2 picks in the NBA draft, can turn into All-Stars down the road. To the team's credit, the Lakers is wise to hold onto rookie contracts of players that could warrant max contracts in four years’ time. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) would give the Purple & Gold a significant edge over potential suitors, one of the many benefits of building a championship team through the draft.

Coach Walton has often stressed the importance of allowing young players to build chemistry over a period of time. Therefore, while the Lakers is expected to deal Lou Williams, besides shopping around veterans Timofey Mozgov, Luol Deng and Nick Young, they would likely hold onto the entire young core of Russell, Ingram, Randle, Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr and Ivaka Zuback. Having said that, crazier things have happened on previous NBA Trade Deadline days. With murmurs of a Jimmy Butler trade still feasible for suitors, the Lakers could make a last-minute dash at trying to land an all-star talent.