According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, "the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings exchanged possible frameworks of a trade centered on All-Star DeMarcus Cousins on Wednesday and discussions could intensify on Thursday."
Wojnarowski passed along components of a potential trade between the Pacific Division rivals:
Kings vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac has pursued a possible deal that would include a bevvy of assets, including the Lakers' No. 2 pick in Thursday's NBA draft, rookies Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson and other draft assets, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Sacramento also would want to unload the remainder of forward Carl Landry's two years, $13.5 million contract, league sources said.
Furthermore, the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina reports Cousins would prefer to lace up his kicks at Staples Center next season:
Here's the kicker: According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers aren't thrilled with the idea of dealing Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson in a deal that would net them Cousins.
The Lakers are likely just playing hardball because they know head coach George Karl wants Cousins out of the picture, but it's difficult to see why Los Angeles would be hesitant to part with two relatively unproven youngsters for a top-10 cornerstone talent like Cousins.
The 20-year-old Randle was selected No. 7 overall by the Lakers a year ago, and he fractured his right leg after playing just 14 minutes in his first professional game. Randle still has plenty of upside to offer, but his talent isn't refined enough to maximize the end of Kobe Bryant's career ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
