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Divac on Cousins trade: 'I had a better deal 2 days ago'

Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports

No surprise, but the Sacramento Kings could've gotten a better return for their franchise player.

The team announced Monday it traded DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package featuring a rookie, an expiring contract, and two draft picks.

Kings general manager Vlade Divac admitted his team had turned down a superior offer just days before agreeing to the deal with New Orleans.

"I had a better deal two days ago," he told reporters.

Related: Kings hit new low by dealing Cousins for pennies on the dollar

Divac entered All-Star Weekend with the mindset he was going to move Cousins, and settled on the lesser deal because he thought the All-NBA center's value would deteriorate the longer he waited. The 26-year-old's contract expires after the 2017-18 campaign.

Related - Divac justifies trading Cousins: 'It was time for a change'

The GM also mentioned he tried to reach out to Boogie, who didn't respond. Cousins' agent, Jarinn Akana, said Sunday that management assured him the talented big man wasn't going anywhere.

Oh, Kings.

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