ere's a new wrinkle in theSacramento Kingsmess: Whilevice president Vlade Divac insisted their franchise player wasn't going anywherebefore Thursday'sNBA Draft, owner Vivek Ranadive gaveDeMarcus Cousins' agent Dan Fegan approval to try to put together a trade with theLos Angeles Lakersbefore the draft,according toUSA Today's Sam Amick:
When Fegan tried to orchestrate a trade that would send Cousins to the Los Angeles Lakers in the days leading up to the draft – one that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive gave him permission to pursue when he made it clear that Cousins wanted out – it wouldn't have shocked anyone if Divac decided to do the deal just to quiet this storm. Instead, he's trying to fix a fractured situation on his terms.
As always, though, the one who really has the most power -- and is most responsible for this situation -- is the owner. The Kings hired Karl before hiring Divac, making the same mistake as when Ranadive made Michael Malone their head coach prior to bringing in Pete D'Alessandro as general manager. What Sacramento needs more than anything is a clear hierachy, and then perhaps the franchise can find some sort of cohesion. Divac has only been on this job for a few months -- this is a heck of an introduction to dealing with NBA politics as an executive.
Divac is currently taking the stancethat he's in charge and he won't be bullied into doing anything in particular. He obviously did not like that head coach George Karl tried to trade Cousins behind his back, and it sounds like he's not too happy with Cousins' camp, either.
When Fegan tried to orchestrate a trade that would send Cousins to the Los Angeles Lakers in the days leading up to the draft – one that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive gave him permission to pursue when he made it clear that Cousins wanted out – it wouldn't have shocked anyone if Divac decided to do the deal just to quiet this storm. Instead, he's trying to fix a fractured situation on his terms.
As always, though, the one who really has the most power -- and is most responsible for this situation -- is the owner. The Kings hired Karl before hiring Divac, making the same mistake as when Ranadive made Michael Malone their head coach prior to bringing in Pete D'Alessandro as general manager. What Sacramento needs more than anything is a clear hierachy, and then perhaps the franchise can find some sort of cohesion. Divac has only been on this job for a few months -- this is a heck of an introduction to dealing with NBA politics as an executive.
Divac is currently taking the stancethat he's in charge and he won't be bullied into doing anything in particular. He obviously did not like that head coach George Karl tried to trade Cousins behind his back, and it sounds like he's not too happy with Cousins' camp, either.
