Vlade Divac says Nuggets turned down a DeMarcus Cousins, Nikola Jokic swap

Sacramento Kings Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac says he tried to trade DeMarcus Cousins for Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic, but Denver declined the offer.

In an article published by Blic Sport, a European media outlet, Divac says he tried to get Jokic, as well as Suns’ guard Devin Booker and Lakers’ wing Brandon Ingram in exchange for Cousins.

A translation from the article shows Divac saying the following.

“There was no way that we (could get) Jokic. I wanted him, but (Denver refused). I tried to get Booker in Phoenix, and Ingram from the Lakers but there was no chance. I wanted to start from the beginning and I think that’s for the best.”

The Nuggets are building around Jokic as their centerpiece and have begun reconfiguring the roster to fit his style of play. The acquisition of Mason Plumlee was the first substantial step in that direction and it seems that Denver has had no plans to change their current plan. Gary Harris, Juancho Hernangomez, and Jamal Murray are other pieces that fit around Jokic quite well.

Jokic is currently averaging 15.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 57.8 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three in 26.7 minutes per game.

The Kings, of course, ended up trading Cousins for a New Orleans Pelicans’ package that consisted of Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, Tyreke Evans, and a future first and second round pick.

(H/T Adam Mares, DenverStiffs.com)