The start of the NBA off-season, for every team in the league, is right around the corner and the speculation is starting to run rampant about potential moves that could be made.
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One big-name that could be headed elsewhere before the start of the 2016-17 NBA season is DeMarcus Cousins. Many have speculated the combination of Cousins and head coach George Karl simply won’t work in Sacramento.
As a result of Karl and Cousins possibly not working in Sacramento, the Kings may pursue all options and opportunities to unload their star center and they may have an ideal opportunity with the Boston Celtics potentially interested in a blockbuster trade, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein:
The good news for Boston: Ainge and his staffers are creative and aggressive and understand all of those dynamics as well as anyone else. And that’s why the Celtics realize their next major talent infusion is perhaps even more likely to come via trade rather than free-agent signings.
Will they open their war chest of future draft picks to try to pry DeMarcus Cousins away from Sacramento via trade? The early word out there is: Bank on it.
The Celtics have stockpiled draft picks over the last few years after Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen headed elsewhere. Now that Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green are also no longer in Boston, the Celtics have started from scratch with head coach Brad Stevens running the show from the sidelines.
Fortunately for the Celtics, Stevens has a promising young core of players to work with. Boston was able to land Isaiah Thomas before the NBA trade deadline and drafted Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick last June. Adding Cousins in the mix would more than likely be a step in the right direction.
If Cousins is truly on the trading block, the Celtics won’t be the only team expressing interest in landing the up-and-coming center. Although in the same division, the Los Angeles Lakers could also get in the conversation. The team could dangle their lottery pick, if they aren’t forced to send it to the Philadelphia 76ers, as well as Julius Randle or even Jordan Clarkson to acquire Cousins.
Plenty of teams with interest in upgrading the center position will likely give the Kings call during the off-season. Cousins also has a favorable deal with the 24-year-old under contract for three more seasons. Cousins will make $14.7 million next season, $15.7 million in 2016-17 and $16.7 million in the final year of his deal in 2017-18.
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