DeMarcus Cousins puzzled by Kings' draft: 'I don't really understand it'

DeMarcus Cousins said he does not understand the Sacramento Kings' decisions in the NBA draft but emphasized that he plans to "control what I can control."

Cousins, while speaking to reporters Monday after Team USA's practice in Las Vegas, was asked about the Kings' moves in the draft last month, when they traded the No. 8 overall pick to the Suns for a package that included the 13th and 28th picks.

Sacramento selected Greek center Georgios Papagiannis at No. 13 and former Kentucky big man Skal Labissiere at No. 28.

"I can't control [the draft decisions]," Cousins said. "I control what I can control. I don't really understand it, but I do my job."

Shortly after the Kings drafted Papagiannis, Cousins tweeted what many perceived to be a critical reaction to the pick.

Cousins later denied that the tweet was about the Kings' draft, telling ESPN that he was referring to a yoga class.

The 6-foot-11 Cousins also was asked Monday about Sacramento's decision to add the 7-foot-1 Papagiannis and the 6-foot-11 Labissiere to an already crowded frontcourt. Last summer, the Kings used their first-round pick on 7-foot forward Willie Cauley-Stein and signed 7-foot center Kosta Koufos to a four-year, $33 million deal.

"I don't really understand what's going on," Cousins said. "I just control what I can control."

Cousins, 25, was an All-Star for the second straight season in 2015-16 despite his strained relationship with then-coach George Karl, averaging a career-high 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.