Divac insists Kings won't trade Cousins this summer

There's no sense in moving a prodigious talent like DeMarcus Cousins.

The mercurial center can be a handful, and might not get along with certain coaches or select players, but he's a 25-year-old All-Star who might already be the best center in the league. The Kings would be hard pressed to move Cousins for someone more talented.

General manager Vlade Divac told reporters on Tuesday that he intends to retain his franchise player.

"He's not going to be traded - this year for sure," Divac said, according to Sean Cunningham of ABC10.

Divac's firm comments come on the heels of an ambiguous sidestep that he gave reporters during exit interviews in April.

"Anything about the players and how we are going to do in the summer," he said. "I don’t want to talk about right now because our focus is to find a new coach."

Shortly thereafter, a report emerged from Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee that Divac might test the market for Cousins.

Divac, however, has mostly sided with Cousins through his squabbles with coaches. It was Divac who played mediator between Cousins and the now-deposed George Karl, and it was Divac who declared that the Kings wouldn't move Cousins last summer. Divac seems to be committed to the idea of making it work.

Cousins averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last season and has two years left on his modestly priced contract.