The Lakers not trading for DeMarcus Cousins reportedly led to Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss being fired

The Los Angeles Lakers attempted to trade for former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins over the weekend, but reportedly refused to include second overall pick Brandon Ingram in any package for the now New Orleans Pelicans center.

There has been scuttlebutt since that the Kings’ decision ultimately came down to the Lakers and Pelicans offers anyway and that Cousins would be a Laker today if the team had their 2017 first round pick outright (it will convey to the Philadelphia 76ers if it lands outside of the top-three selections).

The Kings’ choice to go with the Pelicans’ offer may have cost the Lakers’ front office their jobs, according to Sam Amick of USA Today. Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak were fired on Tuesday morning, and Amick reported that “going after DeMarcus Cousins was Jim & Mitch's last-ditch attempt to save their jobs,” as well as that “Jim really wanted him, Mitch handled talks.”

He also added this:

It’s unknown who outside of new Lakers president Magic Johnson will be attempting to bring stars to Los Angeles now that Buss and Kupchak are out, although a pair of former sports agents are reportedly candidates to replace them, as well as a few other names Amick added:

Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.