[FadedMario]

DeMarcus Cousins has formally requested a trade and has been directed not to attend tonight’s game against the Hornets.

Kings coach Paul Westphal released the following statement:

“Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life!

“As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.

“Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public. This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.

“DeMarcus Cousins has demanded to be traded. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, he has been directed by me, with the support of management, to stay home from the New Orleans game tonight.”

Via NBA.com


Would you offer our 2012 1st and Maxiell for Cousins?

Knight/Stuckey/Bynum
Gordon/Stuckey
Prince/Jerebko/Daye/Singler
Monroe/Jerebko/Villanueva
Cousins/Wallace/Macklin

Our future lineup would look like this

[Hobbs]

Wonder what went wrong. He's a total hothead, but this seems extreme so early.

He hasn't learned shot selection at all, but he's still supremely talented. Would I trade our first and Max for him? Yeah.

[joe servo]

NO! The guy's career has gone exactly the way everyone who knew him best said it would. He's an immature asshole. Stay far away.

[FadedMario]

Dumars loves this guy though. If this trade demand is true, I can honestly see the Pistons trying real hard to get this guy and pull off their 1st trade in a long time. Dumars has been higher on him than any other GM in the league.

[joe servo]

Oh, we all know it's totally in the realm of possibility with Dumars' man-crush on the dude. Hopefully ownership steps in and says no effin' way. btw, dude shot 43% from the field last year and he's at 32% so far this year. He hasn't exactly set the league on fire.

[FadedMario]

ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
RT @sam_amick: Shocking Kings statement released regarding DeMarcus Cousins, who was sent home from team's home game against New Orleans

[RodimusPrime]

Originally Posted by joe servo

Oh, we all know it's totally in the realm of possibility with Dumars' man-crush on the dude. Hopefully ownership steps in and says no effin' way. btw, dude shot 43% from the field last year and he's at 32% so far this year. He hasn't exactly set the league on fire.

But it would require Dumars to make a trade so forget it. Though I wouldn't be against trading a first (as long as it's top 10 protected) and one of our POS's for him. It's worth a shot I guess.

[joe servo]

Yeah, I'm all for a protected pick trade, but Dumars' dumbass will forget to put that little nugget into the paperwork he submits. Our pick is gold right now, Cousins is not.

[GC_STONES]

Coo Coo Cuz.... He is mentally unstable. I would trade Daye + our 1st (top 3 protected) for him. It is a HUGE risk but Cousin/Monroe combo is too good to pass up

[FadedMario]

The #Pistons kept close tabs on Cousins last year and no, they aren't scared off by his so-called "issues"... - Vince Goodwill

[FadedMario]

vgoodwill Vincent Goodwill
I believe with the #Pistons are monitoring the DeMarcus Cousins situation very closely...

[joe servo]

Goddamitt, he better put some protection on the pick!

[detroitsportsfan]

Big risk but big upside. He's still young (and albeit immature) but exactly what the Pistons need. A Greg Monroe/DeMarcus Cousins frontcourt duo would be an upgrade. And if we can get rid of Charlie V and some other players, it could be an addition by subtraction.

[mn3]

This guy has the reputation (based on what I read from David Thorpe, I think, on ESPN last season) of being one of the worst guys to play with on a team in the NBA. I recall something about players never having experienced anything like this guy.

This sounds like character flaw stuff to me. Maybe a guy like Frank and Joe D would be great for him - but it's really hard to justify pulling the trigger on a trade for him if we're giving up major assets to get him. IMO, our first round pick would be too huge a price to pay unless it were lottery protected this year, and something like top 5 protected next year, and then top 2 protected from then on.

I think it's more predictable that he's going to be a permanent problem on any franchise than a guy who "grows up and matures."

[DYNOMITE]

Pass.....

[RugbyPike#11]

I'd rather make a move for Thabeet. His per 36 minute stats for this season are 54 points and 18 rebounds and he's shooting 100% from the field. There's a slight chance that his eye-popping numbers could be a result of a very limited sample size.

[DYNOMITE]

I just don't understand this forum. Cousins has been asked not to come to games from his own shitty team and some think a lotto pick is the price we should pay for the honor of having a nut loser. If you bring him in the price would have to be so low that when you ask him to stay home it doesn't wreck your future.

[Dave Bing]

Obviously, we need to know the backstory. If he's a committed lousy teammate, we don't need any of that. We had quite enough buffoonery last year.

If he can channel his 'tude into being a bad boy, that's different. But he looks to be a lot more dick than tough guy. Of course, Randy Moss, early in his career, had to learn how to be a NFLer. Due dilligence is the key here. I would peddle our 2013 pick, protected, but not our 2012. 2012 looks like the kind of pic that gets us a key missing piece. That's not to be trifled with.

[Dave Bing]

Should we take Cousin's tattoo at face value? Please don't let him be misunderstood...

[ghandi]

Doesnt he want to go to CHI/LA/NY like everyone else??

[mn3]

Looks like lots of articles like this, if you google it:

From CBS Sports.comDeMarcus Cousins: Misunderstood or a Thug

Posted on: February 13, 2011




DeMarcus Cousins 6'9" 260 pound Center out of LeFlore High School in Birmingham AL. ESPN had him the #4 overall player in the country, and #1 Center out of high school in 2009. Big Physical kid who could score at will in the paint, with extremely good feet. Out of high school the experts only concern was relying on jump shots to much, attitude, and taking plays off during the course of the game. Cousins signed with the University of Kentucky after decommiting from Alabama Birmingham.At Kentucky he teamed up with #1 overall pick John Wall and senior Patrick Patterson. Everyone expected him to be a one and done player and thats exactly what he was. If there were ever a player in the history of college basketball who needed more than 1 year it would be, DeMarcus Cousins.

While at Kentuky Cousins showed the signs of being that dominate player. At times he was the best player on the court. Just like in high school he continued to have his bad attitude and continued his lack luster play when he didn't wont to go hard. This Kentucky team was supposed to contend for the national title. The immature actions of Cousins was well documented in the continues arguements with coach John Calipari. He also had altercations with teamates when things didn't gohis way. Everybody tossed his actions up to being a kid, immature, and very misunderstood. I believe it would have benifited Cousins very much to stay at the University of Kentucky for at least anoher year. But as we all know money is everything when you are young so Cousins enter the NBA Draft early.

The first sign of trouble in the NBA came when he refused to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a personal workout due to th fact Cousins said there were to many young Big Men already on the Timberwolves roster. So being one of the first teams to pick the Timberwolves stated that they would't touch him with a 10 foot pole. Well that little incident didn't stop the Sacramento Kings from taking Cousins with the #5 Overall pick. The Kings believed that Cousins had so much up side that the immature actions could be corrected.

Cousins was said to be a rookie of the year candidate before he even played his first game. It didn't take long for those same immature patterns to creep up again. Continues arguments with coaches and teammates got him kicked out of practices and even talks of being sent to the D-League. Cousins was also benched for making a choking sign during a loss to the Golden State Warriors. This pattern continues throughout the month of December and it looked like the Kings were punishing Cousins for everything. The last incident, Cousins was benched during the game due to the fact he didn't acknowledge a teammate trying to give him a high-five. Such a small action seemed like it should be over looked was blown up due to the fact he had all the other trouble before. At this point in the season Cousins was averaging a mere 11 points and 5 rebounds a game.

At the end of the year Cousins acknowleged that his actions in his early NBA career were selfish and IMMATURE. And it looked like DeMarcus had turned the corner with his attitude and play until Feb 12. He averaged 17 pts and 9 rebs afther DEC. 29. But here we are again with his latest stunt with the Kings. After last nights game Cousins got into another altercation with teammate Donte Green. The reason for the fight was due to Green not throwing Cousins the ball for a last second shot. Words were exchanged in the locker room and Cousins called Green scared to make decisions to win games late. Cousins also said he was tired of being disrespected due to his rookie status. So the Kings in turn kicked him off the team flight, fined him 5,000 dollars and suspended him 3 games.

Some Kids never learn, you can have all the talent in the world but if you don't apply youself in the right way, talent is useless. Cousins could be one of the best Centers in todays game, but yet continues to act like a high school kid. The sad thing is that a player like Greg Oden had his head on straight but his body could't hold up. If Oden was given this chances to be great you can bet there is no way he screws it up. Looks like the Kings are tired of his antics and seems like for some reason Cousins can't change. What do the Kings do with the #5 Overall pick who they pay 7 million dollars a year? I don't think this is a case of being misunderstood, I think this s a guy who wants everthing handed to him and not have to work. You have to give respect to get respect. Cousins does not deserve the RESPECT of the NBA,fans, veterans, or coaches until he shows some signs of appreciation. This pattern has followed him at all three major levels of his career and honestly i don't see a change in the future. D-League may be the best place to open his eyes.

[Charlie]

His numbers are about as bad as his attitude. Seriously how does a center shoot that bad and turn the ball over that often. If it requires a lotto pick I wouldn't do it.

[Big Jerm]

Originally Posted by Charlie

His numbers are about as bad as his attitude. Seriously how does a center shoot that bad and turn the ball over that often. If it requires a lotto pick I wouldn't do it.

He spends an inordinate amount of time hanging around the perimeter, from what I've seen of him.

[tin mad dog]

I was a Cousins fan but this is a huge red flag. Proceed with caution, Joe.

[The King]

I would love to get Cousins, but we have nothing to offer. I don't see us giving up Monroe for him. Knight is untouchable. That leaves our #1 pick. As much as I like Cousins, I want to hold onto that pick. It appears that is the only thing that would appeal to the Kings. I can't see them wanting any of our players, unless Villa interests them. Villa and our #1 for Cousins and cap slug seems like the only deal here.

[Kstat]

I'd trade our #1 pick if we slapped top-5 protection on it. I don't thnk the Kings are in any position to demand that it isn't protected.

Cousins' skill set would fit this team like a glove. No way can we deal Monroe for him, though. Not with his shitty behavior.

[The King]

Protection would be ideal. I guess giving up the pick for top-5 protected is something I would do. I love Cousins. You just can't find guys like him. It seems he's a total fucking idiot which has been proven time and time again. It's a big risk, but everyone knows teams are ALWAYS willing to gamble on risks with skills. Cousins/Monroe/Knight would be AWESOME.

[Kstat]

Cousins is shooting %32 from the floor, and averaging 5 fouls a game in only 27 minutes.

He still averages 13 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and 1.5 blocks, in those mistake-prone 27 minutes.

His natural ability is mind-boggling, if he can ever get his head on straight.

[TJPiston]

I agree that if we can trade a draft pick with some protection (5-10?) it's something Joe should definitely consider.

Anything more than that is too risky. I like the character of guys like Monroe, Knight and Jerebko. They play hard and seem like genuinely good teammates. Cousins by all accounts in a headcase. This upcoming draft is deep with players who'd be a good fit on this team with not only their talents, but work ethic, character, etc. as well. (At least from what we know of these guys.)

It'd be one thing if the guy was just an immature jerk but it's possible that he's just one of those guys that will drain the energy of every team he plays with. We don't need that here.

[hack]

Perhaps some of you just didn't know that Cousins is a big Wilco fan. Anyhow, at this point you don't get a lottery pick for him and Joe shouldn't offer a first unless protected. And, as Joe famously said after the Darko draft, there's room for one knucklehead on your team. We have Stuckey. So as long as the initial investment is minimal, I'd do it. If the Kings want somebody to pay for his potential they hopefully will find that elsewhere.

[Dave Bing]

Austin Daye is the guy I would try to send out for him. Not that they would take him.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

This guy was the number 5 pick in a weak draft.

There is a good chance that our pick this season will be top 5 in a strong draft.

No way is this guy worth that. When a team gives up on a young guy this quick...something is up.

Unless we can do a trade for 50 cents on the dollar...you don't do it.

Look at teams like the Bengals in the NFL who got rid of their divas and made the playoffs. One player can destroy a team.

[ThaMaestro]

He's worth the risk of bringing on your team and trying out. He's not worth the risk of giving up a lottery pick and risking your future on him. A protected pick and/or anyone on the roster not named Monroe or Knight. I almost want to put JJ on that list, but Boogie's ceiling is much higher than JJ's. Boogie's ceiling is actually higher than anyone on our roster, but he could easily destroy a team with his attitude.

[Stefan S]

Risks are enormous, too big to invest anything serious into a trade for him.

I think Cousins is already seriously damaged goods -- it's the same story and the same sorts of problems from colleague through his 1st year in NBA through now. The best scenario for him would be to go somewhere where he will be surrounded by solid and steady vets rather than a rebuilding team like ours.

[Stefan S]

Daily Dime - ESPN

Cousins Must Grow Up -- On Another Team
By J.A. Adande

"What's up with DeMarcus Cousins?" a player asked me after the Blazers-Clippers game Sunday night.

This was at Staples Center, about 400 miles south of Sacramento, but there's no such thing as far when it comes to news around the NBA. The player was referring to the latest and perhaps final dust-up involving Cousins and the Sacramento Kings, something serious enough to warrant a statement from coach Paul Westphal on the Kings' website and a banishment of Cousins from their game against the Hornets on Sunday night.

The Kings have learned the hard way that there's a reason a player as talented as Cousins was still available to them with the No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft, and they've also learned that those reasons have a way of showing up.

And it usually means that when the players grow up, they will do so elsewhere, not with the team that drafted them. It's why Michael Beasley dropped behind Derrick Rose in the 2008 draft even though Beasley was taller and the college player of the year, and then wound up in Minnesota two years later. It's why the Clippers once got Lamar Odom at No. 4 in 1999, even though he wound up standing taller than Elton Brand, Steve Francis and Baron Davis a decade later.

When a player's immaturity and/or irresponsibility is so deeply ingrained, it's not something that gets resolved during the span of a rookie contract. The Kings have come to that conclusion only a week into Cousins' second season. Better to realize it now than after it's too late.

In the statement, Westphal said Cousins has "continually, aggressively" shown "he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team." Westphal said Cousins demanded a trade. Cousins' agent told Sports Illustrated that the player did not demand a trade. Regardless of who initiated it, the Kings clearly want to move Cousins.

And they should, for everyone's benefit. Cousins needs to be around a veteran who can put some sense into him. The problem is there are so few of those teams to be found in a league that has skewed younger after 15 years of straight-from-high-school players or one-and-done college guys.

The Boston Celtics would be a good environment for Cousins, and perhaps he could learn enough from old dogs Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett (despite his antics in games, Garnett has never been a problem for coaches and set a tone of defensive accountability from the moment he arrived in Boston) this season to be a building block for when the team moves forward without the Big Three.

But I can't think of a player that would make sense for Sacramento to take back in a trade. And it's not as if the Kings are looking for expiring contracts. They had enough trouble meeting the minimum payroll this year; the last thing they need is more salary cap space.

The Kings are in a bind because Cousins' reputation is becoming so toxic they can't expect close to equal value for him. But if the Kings can't count on a long-term investment, why not go for the ultimate rental, Dwight Howard? If the Orlando Magic were willing to gamble on Gilbert Arenas, they might be interested in Cousins. He'd come a lot cheaper ($8.8 million over the next two seasons) than anything else the Magic could take on (i.e., a Lakers center or two).

The Kings have the salary cap room to take Howard and his $18 million salary back in a trade without having to send a bunch of players to Orlando. They know he wouldn't want to stick around Sacramento past this season. But with the city trying to secure funding for a new arena to keep the Kings in town, it wouldn't hurt to have a superstar in town to make home games feel like a big event for the next four months.

If the Kings wanted to look after Cousins' best interests, they would find a way to get him to Portland so he could be around Kurt Thomas, the steadying locker room presence on the ninth stop of his 17-year NBA journey.

"This is a business," is what Thomas said he would tell Cousins. "You're not playing for just one team, you're playing for the 29 other teams. You've got to keep playing, keep your head. A lot of guys think it's all show. You've got to keep your head."

Thomas' second sentence was the most important. If things don't work out with the Kings, they probably won't work out with the next team or the next team, until there's no more next team. The Kings could look after their player investment and fire Westphal, but this is a Cousins problem, not a Westphal problem. There were issues with the coaching staff during Cousins' lone collegiate season at Kentucky. There will be issues with Cousins' next coach, whomever or wherever that is.

Another player I talked to Sunday night said the guys in his locker room were concerned Cousins could wind up out of the league if he doesn't get it together. Talent and potential will keep problem players around longer than they merit, but it's not infinite. Ask Stephon Marbury.

This anonymous player said he used to be resistant to any criticism, because he didn't have any strong male authority figures around when he was growing up. He carried anger with him for a long time. It took getting married and having kids for him to settle down. Now he's even reconciled with a former coach with whom he had a frosty relationship.

This player realized what Cousins has to realize: The only thing Westphal or anyone else around want is for him to succeed. A more productive Cousins would help Westphal's job security. But even people with no vested interest only want to help.

After the Lakers' game in Sacramento on Monday night, Kobe Bryant said he pulled Cousins aside during last year's All-Star Weekend to give him a little advice.

"He has too much talent to be doing all of that [stuff]," Bryant said. "Just play, man."

In Cousins' rookie season, that stuff (Bryant actually used a different word) includes an altercation with a teammate who didn't pass him the ball at the end of a game, a fine for a verbal confrontation with a team training staff member and an ejection from a practice after talking back to Westphal. Apparently, his attitude hasn't changed as a sophomore.

The reality is that teams that draft people of questionable character often get the worst of them, only to see them blossom elsewhere. Take Odom with the Clippers, who picked him in 1999 after his stock dropped because of rumors floating around during the buildup to the draft. The fears were realized in Odom's second season, when he was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse program (although sources said the suspension was for not complying with the monitoring process, not a positive test).

The Clippers' patience with Odom was so thoroughly exhausted that when he became a restricted free agent, not only did the Clippers decline to match Miami's offer sheet, they also issued a statement from then-general manager Elgin Baylor detailing exactly why: "In the final analysis, the decision was based on issues of character and other risks involved."

It was an extraordinarily (and unnecessarily) candid moment. I haven't seen anything like it … until Westphal's statement Sunday. Think of how exasperated the Kings had to be to let everyone around the league know they were willing to trade Cousins, while saying just how risky a trade prospect he would make.

Maybe Cousins will go on to have a career like Odom's and become a valuable contributor to back-to-back champions. The only thing we know for sure is that the best of Cousins will come with a different team. That's how these stories end.

[Lou Stefanic]

Cousins certainly indicated that he wanted to be here before the draft. And he certainly made an impression on Dumars.

He's all-star level talent with schoolyard maturity. I'm reminded of Oliver Miller, but also of guys like Zach Randolph and Sheed. I'm actually pretty certain that Frank would be the right coach for him if Dumars lets him have the final say, but I'm not so certain that the player environment is right yet.

[Dave Bing]

Brandon and Monroe seem like they have credible work ethics. Certainly Prince has his iron man thing going. Gordon is a solid citizen. I worry about Stuckey and to a lesser degree Daye. I don't like Daye's body language. He's such a floater.

The question is do we really think that he meshes with Monroe? Neither is the shut-down defender type. Both need the ball. I think that would present a problem.

[papalawrence]

I think a top-7 protected pick in next years draft would be worth the risk, then lift the protection going forward. I too would be willing to add Daye as well (or CV, or Max). I don't see him (Daye) ever being much more than an instant-O guy off of the bench -- a role player for some team. I still like him at that role, but those guys are replaceable. 7-foot power players are not, even with the huge risk.

Joe does seem to have a man-crush on him. I certainly hope he doesn't consider trading JJ plus the 2012 #1 for him.

Would you guys consider JJ plus a #1 (lottery protected) pick in 2013 for him?

[ThaMaestro]

With Ben and Tay (Kentucky alum) and the fact that Boogie wanted to come here might mean this is a good destination for him. I'm sick of bad player attitudes on this team though. His talent makes it worth the risk.

[fredsue]

I would be looking to move villa or Max or Daye....I would be very carefull with a draft pick ....added with only major protection.....

I would hope that Ben, Ben, Prince could get him in line

[Stefan S]

This is from The Sacramento Bee
Ailene Voisin: Situation is 'tip of the iceberg,' coach says, so where is the rest? - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

Ailene Voisin: Situation is 'tip of the iceberg,' coach says, so where is the rest?
By Ailene Voisin
Published: Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 - 12:00 am

Power Balance Pavilion isn't the Pentagon, but given DeMarcus Cousins' history, his recent outburst and repeated trade demands – as related Sunday by Kings coach Paul Westphal – sort of fit the profile.

Sort of.

Reputations aren't always reflective of reality. We weren't there Saturday and he wasn't around Sunday to explain his behavior during the previous night's player-coach encounter. The NBA has been global for decades, but this is still America; Cousins gets his day on the witness stand/hot seat. And by the way, he was far from the only Kings player venting his frustrations after Saturday's excruciating loss to the New York Knicks.

Clearly, though, the second-year center is young and emotional and yet to master the art of self-censoring. It's what mothers have been telling their children for generations: It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

"I think it's time for this solution," Westphal said before Sunday's victory over the New Orleans Hornets. "There are many, many things that go on behind closed doors in this business that is nobody's business. Certainly you've heard the cliché, 'the tip of the iceberg.' This is certainly the tip of the iceberg." But where's the rest of it? A one-game (at least) slapdown? By refusing to offer specifics about the incident, the Kings left too much to the imagination. Locker rooms buzz like the old game of telephone game, the story juicier by the retelling.

Rumors and innuendo ran scooted around the arena last night like a four-month-old puppy. The tweeters had enough punch lines for a sequel to "The Social Network." And, initially, at least, Westphal's action had the feel and smell of a diversionary tactic, an attempt to spin the team's downward tale and sluggish start on the biggest and easiest target in the building: the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Cousins.

Cousins, 21, is hardly the only disgruntled player of the three-year Westphal Era. Kevin Martin, Omri Casspi, Carl Landry and Samuel Dalembert expressed similar trade desires during their own Kings tenures, though none apparently took their requests directly to the coach. Additionally, Westphal's one-game sitdown of Spencer Hawes in Feb., 2009, for publicly stating confusion about his role still seems like a gross overreaction.

Asked again late Sunday about his reasons for the dramatic and very public spanking of Cousins, Westphal replied: "He asked to be traded. We're going one direction. He's going anything direction. It's that simple." But, of course, it's not that simple. Cousins, in only his second year, has made significant progress by any measure. This is not the same player who was drafted with the No.5 overall pick in 2010 and showed up at the Las Vegas Summer League woefully out of shape.

Asked to improve his conditioning during the offseason, he arrived at training camp noticeably lighter and quicker on his feet. Until tweaking an ankle and getting kicked above the knee – injuries that cost him valuable practice days and hurt his conditioning during the shortened preseason – he was dominant in practice, grabbing rebounds, scoring underneath and remaining the Kings most willing passer.

Many of his complaints after Saturday's loss were right on point. Notwithstanding Sunday's win over the rebuilding Hornets, the Kings effort had been lacking, the ball and body movement nonexistent, and a sense of cohesiveness nowhere to be found.

For most of these opening days, the Kings have been solo artists, dribbling their way to three painful losses. Seriously? Cousins wants to be traded? The Kings would be nuts to entertain a single phone call, which apparently are not. "We leave that stuff (the benching) to the basketball people," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said before tipoff, "but we're not trading him." They might have considered picking up the phone, though, and placing a pre-emptive courtesy call to Cousins' agent, John Greig. That would have been prudent and mature and pre-emptive, and a clear indication that, amid the stormy season's start, cooler heads indeed will prevail. © Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Read more here: Ailene Voisin: Situation is 'tip of the iceberg,' coach says, so where is the rest? - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

[fredsue]

I would not send....JJ, Monroe, Knight....do not want to send stuck. BenG at this point.

would like to see how a rotation of jj, Cuz, moose in the power positions work out...

[Hobbs]

Protect the pick this year and throw in Daye. A big rotation of Moose, Cousins, and Jerebko is pretty nice and would be here for years to come. It doesn't have a huge shotblocker (although it isn't awful there either), but it is very versatile.

Cousins has a lot of things to work on (on and off the court), but our rebounding issues would evaporate. We'd have 2 double double guys and one of the best energy bigs around.

Clearly a high risk/high reward scenario, but I'd take it.

[DYNOMITE]

We aren't talking about a draft prospect anymore. This idiot has been in the league now for over a year. If he matures it isn't going to be soon. The talk of a lotto pick for him is insane. This is Darko all over again except we didn't know how immature Darko was and we do know about Cousins. He either comes on the cheap or he doesn't come at all.

Our current team has some nice pieces, 1 of which being the high draft pick we are certainly going to get next year. We don't have to take on such a big risk. I just read today that the Pats are 8-0 after cutting Albert Haynesworth and the Bucs are 0-8 since claiming him off waivers. Same dip shit some here wanted on the Lions team, same type of disruptive force.

[Stefan S]

'cannot drop thinking about this "opportunity, though the Maloofs said they are "not trading him."

Cousins is for sure a franchise caliber talent with a mean streak. If he can harness his energy and talents, he will become a punishing force inside.

But, at the same time, he is a Marbury level head case.

I totally agree with all that, if we were to offer a pick, it should be very heavily protected. Next year we have a chance to draft a great player without Cousins' baggage.

Also, if we trade for him, we still need a plan b, in case it becomes clear quickly it will not work out.

[whoDean]

Cousins is young, he'll probably settle down in a few years, tons of talent there, but I can't see anything the Pistons being good trade partners for the Kings.

[ThaMaestro]

If the Spurs could put together a package for him, it would be quite the coo for them. Not sure if they have what it would take, but that would be a good situation for him.

[B.I.G.]

Kings Not Expected To Trade Cousins - RealGM Wiretap

[Kstat]

He'll get traded, if they find a good taker. Making their intentions public would only drive the price down.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Originally Posted by B.I.G.

Kings Not Expected To Trade Cousins - RealGM Wiretap

This is what the Bengals did with Palmer. When a player demands a trade, it hurts their value. Saying you won't trade them drives that value up.

The problem that we have in trades is our high draft pick is basically our only asset that we'd potentially trade.

Everyone is excited that the Clippers got Chris Paul. What people forget is they traded a lottery pick to Cleveland so the Cavs would take Barron Davis salary. THAT PICK ended up being the 1st overall pick.

The Clippers could have had Irving and kept Gordon and all of their other talent.