Rumors of potential deals ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 23 have officially kicked into high gear as they usually do in the final days of wheeling and dealing. One big-name player that was thought not be on the trading block appears to be back on it with the Sacramento Kings reportedly involving DeMarcus Cousins in trade talks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:
Sacramento has been engaging in trade talks on All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins in recent days, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 19, 2017
Apparently, the Kings have discussed a Cousins trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, who are trying to pair Anthony Davis with another star in the frontcourt.
Kings have had recent discussions with New Orleans on Cousins, sources tell @TheVertical. Sac still debating Cousins' future internally.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 19, 2017
The combination of a Cousins-Davis frontcourt in New Orleans is a scary thought for opposing teams. Both players are currently in the prime of their careers, and both make a strong case for the best big man in the game today.
With Cousins reportedly back on the market with only a few days left for teams to make trades, it’ll be interesting to see if the Los Angeles Lakers get involved. The Lakers have been linked with Cousins on multiple occasions over the last few years and now have the assets to make a deal with the Kings if Mitch Kupchak and company are willing to part ways with some of their players in the team’s talented young core.
Although Wojnarowski is as reputable a source as they come, it’s hard to believe anything that comes out of Sacramento regarding the team’s willingness to trade Cousins. For as many times as Cousins has been mentioned in trade rumors, general manager Vlade Divac has either refuted reports or simply said the team wouldn’t be trading their face of the franchise.
Currently, the Kings are still in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference. Sacramento is only a half game back of the Denver Nuggets for the eighth spot with a record of 24-33 and could very well end their playoff drought this season.
