Kings general manager Vlade Divac seemingly had what he deemed a “better” offer for DeMarcus Cousins fall apart after Cousins’ camp dissuaded the other team from dealing for star.
That’s why Sacramento settled for the Pelicans’ meager package. The Kings, Divac said, feared the offers would only get worse as the trade deadline approaches.
This whole experience leaves Divac sounding jilted.
Sam Amick of USA Today:
Kings' Vlade Divac, on @Sports1140KHTK, asked what he learned in process: "Not to trust agents" Insinuates Cousins' reps killed another deal
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 20, 2017
The guy who declared publicly just two weeks ago that Cousins wouldn’t be traded is talking about not trusting agents? OK.
Divac reportedly told Cousins’ camp late Sunday afternoon that the center wouldn’t be traded and then reached a deal just a few hours later. There are conflicting accounts of how well Sacramento informed Cousins privately of their true intentions, but Divac public statements are enough to show hypocrisy here. The only question is precisely how hypocritical he’s being.
Cousins missed out on a lot of money -- a projected $30 million or so -- as a result of this trade. His agents were doing their job when they tried to scuttle a deal. Cousins never owed it to Sacramento to facilitate his own exit.
The Kings want to change their culture without Cousins, but they’re so far not setting a tone of trustworthiness.
