Kings, Lakers discussing ‘framework’ of DeMarcus Cousins trade, according to report

Sacramento may be more willing to move its star than previously suggested.

Jun 25, 2015, 3:15 AM UTC

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The Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings discussed the “framework” of a trade that could bring DeMarcus Cousins to L.A., according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. While no deal is imminent, the willingness to engage the Lakers shows that Sacramento is softening its hard-line stance on not dealing its star player.

The Kings are hoping for a deal that includes Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and the Lakers’ No. 2 pick, Wojnarowski reports. The Lakers would prefer not to include Randle and are worried about including Clarkson, who had a promising rookie season. Sacramento would also like to offload Carl Landry’s contract on the Lakers.

The Kings have also discussed possible Cousins deals with other teams, but are unwilling to engage directly with the Nuggets, who had been another Cousins suitor. Denver is also reportedly interested in acting as the third team in a deal that would send Cousins to the Lakers.

Kings management has so far publicly denied all Cousins trade rumors. Vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac insisted that a Cousins deal is “not happening” when asked by The Sacramento Bee. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive told USA Today that there’s “zero interest” internally to deal Cousins.

But Kings coach George Karl has reportedly been pushing to deal Cousins and may be getting his way. Karl evaded direct questions about Cousins trade rumors when asked on Wednesday.

Cousins’ relationship with Kings management has soured since the team fired coach Mike Malone in December. The Kings were playing well before Cousins went down with viral meningitis and Cousins got along with his coach. He has not bonded with Karl, who has reportedly been doing everything in his power to ensure the 24-year-old big man gets traded.

There were reports that Cousins was resistant to the hiring of Karl before it even happened, and everything that’s unraveled since would seem to support that. However, Cousins told a fan on Twitter that he “absolutely” wants to stay in Sacramento.