Much has been made both during and after Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak’s departures about the various final straws that might have pushed Jeanie Buss over the line. One such issue was how hard the Los Angeles Lakers pursued then Sacramento King DeMarcus Cousins.
In a podcast with Zach Lowe, Ramona Shelburne (both of ESPN) provided detail as to why trade discussions didn’t get very far, as well as who might’ve preferred a certain direction for the Lakers at that time.
Given what the Kings wound up taking for Cousins after all was said and done, the haul they expected from the Lakers seems pretty daunting.