DeMarcus Cousins Trade Rumors Update: Lakers Still Interested in Kings’ Center, Trading D'Angelo Russell?

The DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors are in full swing as the Kings management and newly hired head coach George Karl are at odds whether they will deal the All-Star center to another team.

One of the frontrunners to land Cousins is the Los Angeles Lakers. After drafting D'Angelo Russell on last Thursday's NBA Draft, Mark Heisler of Forbes and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that LA is willing to include him in a deal that will include prized rookies Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

"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," as stated in Wojnarowski's report.

However, Vlade Divac said in an interview with Sacramento radio station KHTK 1140 via Sam Amick of USA Today that the management is leaning towards keeping DeMarcus Cousins. Divac said that regardless of the criticisms and pressure the newspapers put on him, he will not be dettered as his only goal is to improve the Kings roster.

He further added that the management is aiming to resolve all the tension before the next season begins, which could mean a George Karl or Cousins departure.

"We have to go forward and try to make it a healthy environment and try to have a good team for next year," he said.

He admitted that it will be tough to decide where the franchise should go in the future. With a blockbuster deal or staff firing looking imminent sooner or later, He said that some fans might love or hate him, but it will definitely be the best for the franchise.

"Look, we're going to have ups and downs in the next couple months. And you're going to hate me, you're going to love me, but believe me I'm going to do the best I can to make this thing work. With me, with DeMarcus, with George, or without me, without DeMarcus, without George, I don't know. But we'll make it work," he added.

Will George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins be able to set aside their differences or will the Kings management be forced to pull the plug on either of them? Stay tuned.