LAS VEGAS _ DeMarcus Cousins is excited.
Next month in Rio de Janeiro, he'll realize his dream to play for Team USA in the Olympics. But wherever he goes, questions follow about the Kings and the latest chapter in their soap opera.
This summer has been no different. Cousins now is being asked about first-round draft pick Georgios Papagiannis, who happens to play center, Cousins' position.
Cousins emphasized he is not getting involved in the Kings' decision making. He's leaving those duties to general manager Vlade Divac and the rest of the front office while he focuses on playing for the national team.
"I do my job," Cousins said Monday after Team USA's practice at Mendenhall Center. "I can't control (the draft). I control what I can control."
After the June draft, the Kings are younger. With the additions of Papagiannis and power forward Skal Labissiere, they also are much bigger, even though they needed help at point guard and small forward.
Cousins said it's not his responsibility to interpret the front office's moves. His task is to play at a high level as a two-time All-Star.
"I really don't understand it," he said of the addition of Papagiannis, "but I do my job."
Last summer, the Kings tried to make a big move toward a postseason berth, adding a big-name free agent in point guard Rajon Rondo along with veterans expected to help turn around the team. But the strategy failed, and they missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.
The Kings took a different approach this offseason, avoiding high-profile free agents. Cousins said he did not offer the decision makers his opinion.
"I let them do their job," he said.
It's no secret Cousins wanted Rondo to return. Rondo led the NBA with 11.7 assists per game last season, but the Kings did not attempt to retain him.
Although Rondo signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls, Cousins said his feelings for Rondo "remain the same."
"He's like a big brother to me," Cousins said. "Like I said, I can control what I can control. Management went their way."
Cousins said the additions of Arron Afflalo, Matt Barnes, Garrett Temple and Anthony Tolliver will provide needed versatility and defensive toughness. Cousins said he has wanted to play with Barnes, who can be one of the league's peskiest players. Despite his reputation, Barnes always has been popular among his teammates.
"I hate to play against him, but I love to have him on my team," Cousins said of Barnes.
Cousins also attended some of the Kings' summer league games and said Labissiere "was very impressive."
Cousins worked out in Las Vegas this offseason preparing for his Team USA duties.
"It's the obvious. I get to play for my country; that's the biggest thing," Cousins said. "So it's an honor for me. I take pride in what I'm doing, and I'm going to represent well."
Cousins went from being a member of the U.S. Select Team in 2012, which practices against Team USA, to earning a spot on the Olympic team. Kings teammate Willie Cauley-Stein is on this year's Select Team.
"I've been through the trenches when it comes to Team USA," said Cousins, who played for the Americans when they won the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. "I love the grind. I love what I went through. It helped me become a better player and person, and I'm going to take advantage of it."
