DeMarcus Cousins Reportedly ‘Would Not Be Unhappy’ to Join the Lakers

According to multiple published reports, the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers are continuing to discuss a possible swap for All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.

The Kings, naturally, are denying the whole thing.

The framework for a deal is said to be in place, and Cousins reportedly wouldn’t oppose a move to Hollywood.

Per the LA Daily News and Yahoo! Sports:

“DeMarcus would not be unhappy if he got moved to the Lakers,” said a league source familiar with Cousins’ thinking. […] If the Lakers acquired Cousins, they would land an established 24-year-old center that has already made an All-Star team (2015) and won a gold medal (2014 FIBA World Championships) through five NBA seasons. Though the Lakers may have to ensure Cousins’ various outbursts with the Kings would not follow him here, his transition may take less time than Duke center Jahlil Okafor. But the Lakers may have to give up a combination of the Lakers’ Nos. 2, 27 and 34 picks, as well as Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson, just to land Cousins? That would leave the Lakers without any youthful assets to establish their rebuilding long-term.

 

The Kings started to engage with teams and explore possible trade scenarios beyond the Lakers on Wednesday, league sources said. Sacramento management has publicly said it won’t trade Cousins, but that stance has increasingly softened and the franchise is proceeding further on moving him, league sources said. […] After Sacramento Kings coach George Karl pushed for Kings management to trade Cousins this spring, Cousins is unenthusiastic about returning to play for Karl and would be eager for a deal to the Lakers, league sources said. Opposing teams are trying to deciper whether the Kings are making a sincere effort to accomodate Cousins with a trade – or simply trying to placate him that they tried and were unable to find a suitable deal.

 

Minimally, the Lakers have no intention of including Randle in a deal for Cousins, league sources said. Randle, a power forward, was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft and missed most of his rookie season after leg surgery. The Lakers are reluctant to part with Clarkson too, sources said. […] The Lakers are eager to make a deal for Cousins before Thursday night’s draft, but if no agreement is in place, Los Angeles will continue to decide between Duke center Jahlil Okafor and Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell, sources said.