During this rebuilding era of the Los Angeles Lakers, many trade rumors have come and gone. With head coach Luke Walton at the helm, the organization has elected to move onward with their young core, attempting to mold together into a winning environment.
However, it didn’t always seem that way heading into this season. The Lakers were contingent on being involved in the free agency and trade scramble for some big name stars, including DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.
Cousins has been continually linked to the Lakers, as it seemed like a desirable destination. The Lakers certainly have the assets and young players to center a trade around, but the organization remained reluctant and is moving onward for now.
The All-Star center has clashed continually with the Kings’ organization throughout the years, questioning the mindset and outlook the organization had to turn the Kings into playoff contenders. However, the 2016-17 NBA season has gone over rather smoothly for Cousins, as he expects to remain with the Kings barring any unforeseen events, via Marc Stein of ESPN.com:
Will the Sacramento Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins before he completes the second-to-last year on his current contract?
Cousins himself, to name one prominent party in this long-running drama, doesn’t expect it.
“Unless you know something I don’t,” Cousins said with a chuckle earlier this week during a brief postgame visit in Dallas with ESPN.com.
This season, Cousins has been statistically posting the regular dominance he has had during his seven-year career. He is posting a career high 28.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
Unfortunately for Cousins, the Kings currently hold an 8-15 record and have lost five of their last six games. The team made many offseason acquisitions to his liking, bolstering the roster with guards after the departure of Rajon Rondo.
With a worse record than the Lakers, it seems inevitable that Cousins will be overcome with frustration if the Kings were to continue with this trend.
However, Cousins reiterated that he is in cohesion with management and understands the constant talk regarding him:
“I talk to management a lot,” Cousins told ESPN.com. “We’re on the same page. I’m not worried about it.
“To know that you’re wanted throughout the league … I’d be worried if nobody wanted me. Then I’d have a situation on my hands. But I’m happy where I am. I’m happy with this team. I’m in a great place.”
Cousins has been linked to the Lakers in multiple ways. During the offseason, Cousins stated that the Lakers were his favorite team growing up.
During an earlier contest with the Lakers this season, he and fellow Kentucky alumnus Julius Randle got in a little skirmish, but Cousins stated it was nothing but love between the two players.
Both slated in the Pacific Division, the Lakers and Kings still have three meetings this regular season. In their lone contest this season, the Lakers pulled off perhaps their biggest comeback victory this season. The Lakers and Kings meet Monday at 7:30 P.M. PST at the Golden 1 Center, as the Lakers begin a seven-game road trip.