http://0rz.tw/wHzol NEW YORK – The Sacramento Kings are planning to select Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins with the fifth pick in the draft, sources with knowledge of the franchise’s plan told Yahoo! Sports. The Kings have ultimately decided Cousins is just too talented to pass and believe they can provide the support system he’ll need in the NBA. Cousins is 6-foot-11, 285 pounds, and has a refined offensive game. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie and coach Paul Westphal are banking the organization can help Cousins improve his conditioning and maturity. Cousins had a fantastic workout with the Kings, delivering the best shooting performance of their predraft process. He made 78 percent of his shots, including plenty of attempts from 15 to 17 feet. The Kings had considered Georgetown’s Greg Monroe, but don’t believe a drama-free personality outweighs far more upside at center. The Kings, who just traded for Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert(notes), are counting on a frontline of Cousins and Jason Thompson(notes) to carry them through the next era. The Kings expect Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson will be gone before them, and so starts the dominos to set up the alignment of the draft lottery. The New Jersey Nets have Minnesota spinning now, unsure whether GM Rod Thorn’s interest with drafting Johnson over Favors is genuine or designed to be a rouse to elicit a draft pick out of the Timberwolves. The Wolves have long wanted Johnson, but if he’s gone, they would take Favors, the power forward out of Georgia Tech. For New Jersey to let Minnesota have Johnson, league sources say the Nets want Minnesota’s pick at No. 23. The Golden State Warriors will draft Monroe with the sixth pick, and sources say the Detroit Pistons have settled on North Carolina’s Ed Davis with the seventh choice. – Adrian Wojnarowski, 5:05 p.m. ET, June 23 --

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