Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, right, protects the ball from Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia, of Georgia, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, March 23, 2014. The Kings won 124-107. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

So many complicating variables hinge on whether Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins would wind up in a Lakers uniform.

But consider at least one significant party interested.

“DeMarcus would not be unhappy if he got moved to the Lakers,” said a league source familiar with Cousins’ thinking.

Cousins’ future with the Sacramento appears tenuous amid a Yahoo! Sports report that said Kings coach George Karl has led a campaign to convince its franchise to trade its All-Star center. Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadive and vice president Vlade Divac have since said they would not trade Cousins, while Divac told the Sacramento Bee that it is inaccurate Karl wants Cousins traded. Cousins responded tweeting an emoji depicting a snake in the grass.

Meanwhile, an ESPN article said the Lakers have “pursued trade scenarios” in recent weeks involving Cousins. The Lakers have declined to address this possibility. But a source familiar with Cousins’ thinking said there is “interest from both sides to get DeMarcus to the Lakers.”

Still, complicating variables remain.

If the Lakers acquired Cousins, they would land an established 24-year-old center that has already made an All-Star team (2015) and won a gold medal (2014 FIBA World Championships) through five NBA seasons. Though the Lakers may have to ensure Cousins’ various outbursts with the Kings would not follow him here, his transition may take less time than Duke center Jahlil Okafor. But the Lakers may have to give up a combination of the Lakers’ Nos. 2, 27 and 34 picks, as well as Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson, just to land Cousins? That would leave the Lakers without any youthful assets to establish their rebuilding long-term.

That explains why the source familiar with Cousins’ thinking believes the Lakers will ultimately use their No. 2 pick to draft Okafor. As for Cousins? The source sounded skeptical Cousins’ relationship with Karl could improve, noting that it never became strong after the Kings hired the veteran coach last February. Hence, the source said Cousins would be thrilled if the Kings traded him to a big-market or playoff team.

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