Report: Vivek Ranadive doesn't want to trade Cousins

The Sacramento Kings continue to hold firm with respect to their disgruntled franchise player.

Although it appears inevitable that the two sides will eventually split, for the time being the Kings want to make it work with DeMarcus Cousins. That directive is coming from the very top.

Jackie MacMullan of CSN Northeast reports that Kings part-owner Vivek Ranadive doesn't want to move Cousins, therefore the team will not budge until that thinking changes.

The message out of Sacramento is often unclear. Two weeks ago Kings minority owner Shaquille O'Neal lambasted Cousins for lacking leadership and ominously warned that his club "may be looking to go in a different direction."

From the outside looking in, rival executives reportedly anticipate a three-month window - essentially by the trade deadline - for Sacramento to move their unhappy center. The logic follows that the market for Cousins would be significantly weaker if he were in a walk year (Cousins' contract is set to expire following the 2017-18 season.)

As for now the two sides remain together while Sacramento desperately tries to rebuild around him. But yet the result is the same - Cousins is putting up incredible per-game averages of 27.5 points and 9.9 rebounds, but the Kings remain mediocre.

Something has to give eventually, but as MacMullan writes, that decision comes down to Ranadive.