Divac: Kings won't trade No. 6 pick 'unless we can get several good pieces'
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With the NBA Draft and free agency looming, Vlade Divac is about to get his first major test as the Sacramento Kings' lead basketball decision-maker.
In the wake of the front office departures of general manager Pete D’Alessandro and special adviser Chris Mullin, the Kings' rookie vice president is being tossed into the fire with little more than his own untested instincts to guide him through. He's trying not to sweat it too much.
"We have to upgrade our personnel staff and add people in the future, no question," Divac told Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee. "But I'm comfortable with our scouting and preparation."
As far as what he plans to do with the No. 6 pick the Kings hold in Thursday's draft, Divac stayed mum, except to say that any team hoping to pry the pick away will have to come in with a Godfather offer.
The Denver Nuggets have reportedly dangled disgruntled point guard Ty Lawson - a former disciple of Kings head coach George Karl - but it sounds like it's going to take a lot more than that.
"Ours is a relatively good position because we'll get a good player," Divac said of the draft. "We are receiving a ton of calls about trades, but I am very protective about the pick. I don't want to give it up unless we can get several good pieces. Then I would think about it."
That said, Divac does want to find a way to upgrade the roster, potentially even before the names are called at Barclays Center on June 25, though he had to forcefully shoot down notions of trading All-NBA center DeMarcus Cousins, for what feels like the zillionth time.
"That is not happening," Divac said, "but I would love to do something, a smaller move, before the draft. We have a lot of changes to make. The league is much more up-tempo now, and we need more three-point shooting. If we don't get that in the draft, we'll be active in free agency and see about making trades later in the offseason.
"We know our coach and the pieces he needs. And I really believe we are going to be a totally different team next season, with different energy. Our goal next year is not only to have a winning season, but a playoff season. This draft is important, but it's only the beginning."