Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, right, drives past Sacramento Kings’ Arron Afflalo during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
After winning the NBA All-Star game MVP, New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis finally gets the much-needed help he needs, as Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is reportedly heading to the “Big Easy.”
READ: Cousins joins Davis in New Orleans after multi-player deal
However, according ESPN, if only the Los Angeles Lakers were willing to give out their prized rookie, the 26-year-old mercurial big man could have made his way to Hollywood instead.
The floundering Lakers squad was reportedly in the running to land the 3-time All-Star in a similar deal, but refused to include last year’s No. 2 draft pick Brandon Ingram in the package.
The Kings told the Lakers that without Ingram, they weren’t interested. Sources said talks didn’t get much farther than that
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 20, 2017
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski also confirmed the botched deal.
Sources: Kings, Lakers discussed parameters on Cousins deal in past 48 hours, but Sacramento ended talks in late afternoon. Pels are focus.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 20, 2017
Cousins’ probable departure from Sacramento has been heavily talked about since last year, with Los Angeles emerging as heavy favorites to land the distraught superstar.
The Kings’ brass initially wanted promising sophomore D’Angelo Russell in return, but opted to go for the lanky freshman out of Duke instead.
Still, the rebuilding Lakers did not budge and insisted on keeping its young nucleus, while the Kings pulled the trigger and received Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway and first- and second-round draft picks from the Pelicans.
Meanwhile, Cousins is in the last year of his $62-million contract and could sign with any team he pleases come off season.
His tandem with co-Kentucky Wildcat Alum, Davis, has sent shockwaves to the league, but it still remains to be seen if the two talented big men could co-exist on the floor. Khristian Ibarrola