NBA Offseason Trade Rumors and Signings: Where Will Demarcus Cousins Go? Top Teams Put Best Bets on Boogie
A James-Love-Cousins frontcourt may be in the works.
With less than two months remaining until NBA tips off late October, the rumor mill is abuzz with possible game-changing trades for the 2017-18 season.
The Warriors had plenty of attention in the offseason, adding scoring juggernaut Kevin Durant to their already championship-caliber team. The move, in addition to a higher salary cap, forced front offices across conferences to make blockbuster deals of their own.
Superstars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook might not crack the market anytime soon, but the league is not short of rising talent for teams to place their best bets on. One of the most prominent names on the list is All-Star center Demarcus Cousins
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The score on Boogie
Cousins yet again solidified his place as one of the best bigmen in the NBA, as well as the face of the Sacramento Kings.
The fifth overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft built a very tempting resume for himself last season, setting a career-high with 26.9 points per game. He also averaged 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per game to clinch back-to-back All-Star Game selections.
With the point guard position quickly becoming the centerpiece of every team, 'Boogie' is a rare find in the league. To add to his uniqueness, he also hit 70 three-pointers last season—which also gives him the option of playing the increasingly necessary stretch forward position.
The only Kryptonite to Cousins' stardom are his nagging injuries. The Kings center only played 65 games last season, sidelined by an ankle injury in January.
Team chemistry is another story. Cousins' attitude had always been a concern for the team and the league, despite his tremendous upside. Kings announcer Grant Napear blamed Cousins for the team missing another playoff berth, finishing the season with a 33-49 record.
Up for grabs
This dysfunction in the Kings' locker room, however, may be prompting other franchises even more to try putting Cousins in a new environment.
One of those teams might be the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are rumored to be putting Kevin Love on the trade block anytime next season. However, the Kings are reportedly interested in scoring point guard Kyrie Irving, not Love, who had a dismal playoff run with the eventual champions.
The Philadelphia 76ers are also willing to bet on the volatile bigman, going as far as offering the younger center Nerlens Noel. This is not a far possibility—the Sixers have to unload their stacked frontcourt of Noel, Okafor and the returning Joel Embiid. Noel himself also said he was open to a change in scenery.
Perhaps one of the strongest pitches for a Cousins trade came from the Chicago Bulls, who are reportedly willing to exchange Bulls scoring leader Jimmy Butler, Doug McDermott and Robin Lopez for Boogie and Rudy Gay. If the trade works out, Sacramento would be rid of its tumultuous relationship with Cousins and have Jimmy Butler's streaky shooting on their roster. Meanwhile, the Bulls could have a potential run for the Finals with the versatile center and championship experience in Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.
Whether a trade is in the works or not, everyone with the right cap space can push for Cousins when he hits free agency in 2018. For now, fans can only dream up the possibilities.
