Report: George Karl has 'intense desire' to trade DeMarcus Cousins

The Los Angeles Lakers are actively pursuing a trade for Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, ESPN's Marc Stein reports.

Despite Sacramento Kings vice president Vlade Divac's insistence that he will not tradeDeMarcus Cousins, the Los Angeles Lakers are actively pursuing a trade for the All-Star center, ESPN's Marc Stein reports. 

Rumors of a potential Cousins trade have swirled for over a month, with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics mentioned as the most likely suitors. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday night that Kings coach George Karl is pushing for the team to trade the All-Star.

This comes after Kings owner Vivek Ranadive told USA Today mere hours earlier that the team has 'no interest' in trading Cousins.

Cousins sent this cryptic tweet that went viral late Monday night.

🌾🐍🌾

— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) June 23, 2015

Cousins, who turns 25 in August, has three years left on the max deal he signed in 2013. He had a career year this season, averaging 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, all career highs.

“That is not happening,” Divac told The Sacramento Bee in regards to trading Cousins, “but I would love to do something, a smaller move, before the draft.”

The Lakers are widely considered to be interested in drafting a big man with the No. 2 pick in Thursday's draft, likely Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor.

- Dan Gartland