Report: Los Angeles Lakers Making Push for Cousins
LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Lakers are kicking the tires on a three-team trade to get DeMarcus Cousins in purple and gold, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Stein reports that the Lakers “have been actively pursuing trade scenarios in recent weeks in an attempt to construct a deal that would convince the [Sacramento] Kings to part with Cousins.”
But Kings general manager Vlade Divac recently told the Sacramento Bee that his All-Star center is staying in Sacramento.
“That is not happening,” Divac told the Bee. “But I would love to do something, a smaller move, before the draft. We have a lot of changes to make. The league is much more up-tempo now, and we need more three-point shooting. If we don’t get that in the draft, we’ll be active in free agency and see about making trades later in the offseason.”
The Orlando Magic are the third team Stein mentioned in the deal that would send Cousins, 24, to the Lakers. The NBA Draft is Thursday. Each team involved in the potential trade has a top-6 pick.
Cousins was selected No. 5 in the 2010 NBA Draft. Cousins has averaged 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 350 career games. Cousins averaged a career-high last season with 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
