DeMarcus Cousins demands trade

[Black]

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.

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/westphal_statement_2012_01_01.html

Headcase? Yes.

Young and high ceiling? Yes.

Plays a position of need? Yes.

Low risk contract? Yes.

Headcase? Yes.

So what do you think, BCP? What, if anything, would you be willing to give up for Cousins?

[Black]

Would anyone consider:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6pecqar

With maybe a pick coming from Sacramento?

[Chef]

i would prefer

dj and tyrus for cousins and garcia

and yes do it asap

[Black]

i would prefer

dj and tyrus for cousins and garcia

and yes do it asap

That would work for me too. I'm personally all for it. I'm probably just being overly optimistic, but I think the "Jordan Effect" could work on a young guy like Cousins. Playing for Jordan might get his ass in line, and make him take his job more seriously.

[ohara831]

I'd go after him ASAP if there is any way to keep our 1st round pick. If we are considered so bad, maybe agree to give the Kings the option to swap 1st round picks as part of any deal? But I would dearly love to have him in Charlotte, even if DJ and Diaw both have to go.

[Plowright]

would do either of the deals mentioned above. I want to keep picks tho!

[Black]

I'd go after him ASAP if there is any way to keep our 1st round pick. If we are considered so bad, maybe agree to give the Kings the option to swap 1st round picks as part of any deal? But I would dearly love to have him in Charlotte, even if DJ and Diaw both have to go.

Agreed 100%.

We could run with:

Kemba
Hendo
Maggette (Who is quickly falling out of favor with me)
Tyrus
Cousins

Not a bad lineup, and might as well get Kemba as many minutes as possible.

[ohara831]

Kings are going to suck nearly as bad as Charlotte. So giving them the right to swap 1sts with us wont hurt too bad. Maybe 3-4 spots at worse. And for having Cousins here, it is a small price to pay. God, I hope Cho is working the phones as we talk.

[Black]

Kings are going to suck nearly as bad as Charlotte. So giving them the right to swap 1sts with us wont hurt too bad. Maybe 3-4 spots at worse. And for having Cousins here, it is a small price to pay. God, I hope Cho is working the phones as we talk.

Ditto. That's why I'm in hyper-reply mode. It makes too much sense for Cho not to be at least seeing what's possible.

[Chef]

Kings are going to suck nearly as bad as Charlotte. So giving them the right to swap 1sts with us wont hurt too bad. Maybe 3-4 spots at worse. And for having Cousins here, it is a small price to pay. God, I hope Cho is working the phones as we talk.

absolutely positively protect if we get #1 or #2 no swapping. the more i think about it, no touching draft picks. no diaw either. he and dj are our two most valuable trade pieces.

it would be great seeing cousins, biz and kemba all sitting on the bench not playing under silas's insane personnel decisions.

[ohara831]

Chef, 13 pts and 11 Reb and just turned 21 in August. You think holding onto Diaw is even worth considering? And no way you get a trade like this without at least giving them the option to swap 1st round picks. And they will be just about as bad as we will, so the fall back wont be but a handful of spots at worse. You have not seen much of Cousins if you think we can get this kid for diddly squat. Cho has to come up with a significant package to get this kid. Even if Sac has banished him for this outburst, they will not simply give him away. Too many teams will offer something significant to get him.

[Twan's Kin]

would love to see Cousins playing for the Bobcats.

[Zoolander]

I agree, I just don't think mgmt is looking to make any moves unfortunately...

[CatNation1]

No thanks. Dumber than a bag of Tyruses

[Chef]

Chef, 13 pts and 11 Reb and just turned 21 in August. You think holding onto Diaw is even worth considering? And no way you get a trade like this without at least giving them the option to swap 1st round picks. And they will be just about as bad as we will, so the fall back wont be but a handful of spots at worse. You have not seen much of Cousins if you think we can get this kid for diddly squat. Cho has to come up with a significant package to get this kid. Even if Sac has banished him for this outburst, they will not simply give him away. Too many teams will offer something significant to get him.

don't know what teams are lining up sweet offers for him. he is a trouble maker and sac is definitely looking for a young point guard. not too many around. i would try to hold onto doris if i could but if it had to be, i would let him go.

the draft pick thing, i absolutely disagree. there are basically 4 really good players and then a clear drop off. if we had to give up a top 4 to drop back to 5 or 6 it would be really bad. if we had #1 and they had #4 it would be very bad. if we had #1 and they had #5 it would be absolutely terrible. i would stand firm no swapping picks.

[CrazyCarl139]

We absolutely need to go after cousins. He's a center who can score. Playing with Tyrus/Biyombo he wont have to guard the best big either. DJ and Boris' expiring might be enough. I'd go for that in a second.

[GoBobs]

stay away there is a reason they are willing to part with him. He crazy!

[stun704]

stay away there is a reason they are willing to part with him. He crazy!
High Risk, High Reward, and guess what, we have a gambling owner :biggrin:

Kemba
Hendo
Barnes
Biyombo
Cousins

YES PLEASE

[Boomer]

I'd give up a good bit to get Cousins. He's got talent. He can be straightened out, he just needs to be put in a winning environment (which we can create).

[Boomer]

Also, he's a perfect compliment to Biyombo down low.

[Toocool]

Moved to the appropriate area.

On topic: Wouldn't Cousins, as long as we don't give up our pick for him.

[Chef]

good article from adande on the daily dime. agree with everything except for the magic part. pretty sure only way you are getting howard is evans, cousins and multiple picks for a 1 year rental JA. keep in mind if we get him jordan better have a very strong presence with him because our only veterans are mags and diaw which i don't want mentoring anyone on effort and diop who needs to be no where near a player with weight concerns.

"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' Web site and a banishment of Cousins from their game against the Hornets 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 the 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 initatied 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 on 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. 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 done. Now he's even reconciled with a former coach with whom he had a frosty relationship.

This player realized what Cousins has to realize: that 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 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, the 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.

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

Sacremento need a facilitator at the point instead of Tyreke so I say we swing a trade for Cousins and Isaiah Thomas and send Diaw and DJ Augustin to Sacremento. Paves the way for Kemba to become a starter and I think Isaiah Thomas could turn out to be a solid yet undersized backup at the point.

[ohara831]

High Risk, High Reward, and guess what, we have a gambling owner :biggrin:

Kemba
Hendo
Barnes
Biyombo
Cousins

YES PLEASE

Now that is a starting 5 that in 2 years could be a major threat in the East for a decade.

Another thing to remember is we own the 2013 1st rounder of Portland from the Crash trade. That could be dangled as well in any deal.

[Boomer]

Keep our draft pick but I'd give up anyone outside of Biyombo/Kemba for him.

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

just wondering whether anyone would think this trade would work?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
+ i was thinking maybe we could give them the portland pick 2013 in exchange for there 2012 pick

but then again he might not be on the trade block just read this


Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick, however, spoke to Cousins’ agent and reports that the second year star did not demand a trade. (http://tracking.si.com/2012/01/02/report-kings-f-demarcus-cousins-demanded-trade-told-to-stay-home/)

“DeMarcus never demanded a trade,” Cousins’ agent, John Greig told SI.com. “I’m surprised the Kings, if they believe the player wanted a trade, wouldn’t have made a phone call to his representative. Maybe Westphal is just feeling the heat early this season.”

[Wolfpackbobcat]

Do we really want Cousins? He seems like a lazy bum headcase to me.

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

Do we really want Cousins? He seems like a lazy bum headcase to me.

He has a really bad reputation but this year I think he's different even if he has asked to be traded. He came into the season 18 pounds lighter and really took on board some of the criticsm like him settling for jumpers and to top it all off he's averaging a double double and we could probably get him in a decent trade. What do the Bobcats have to lose

[BBQNut]

guy was a punk at Kentucky and has only gotten worse. Great contract,
but I wouldn't want him.

[superb1]

idk, i rather have had Jason Thompson but he probably wont be available now

[Plowright]

just wondering whether anyone would think this trade would work?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
+ i was thinking maybe we could give them the portland pick 2013 in exchange for there 2012 pick

but then again he might not be on the trade block just read this


Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick, however, spoke to Cousins’ agent and reports that the second year star did not demand a trade. (http://tracking.si.com/2012/01/02/report-kings-f-demarcus-cousins-demanded-trade-told-to-stay-home/)

“DeMarcus never demanded a trade,” Cousins’ agent, John Greig told SI.com. “I’m surprised the Kings, if they believe the player wanted a trade, wouldn’t have made a phone call to his representative. Maybe Westphal is just feeling the heat early this season.”


No link, you have to do the trade and then copy and paste the link they give you

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

it was basically diaw and augustin for cousins and isaiah thomas thanks for the advice I wont make that mistake again

[Boomer]

Not sure why there is a separate trade board. You'd get more participation if you left it on the main board. It's separation for separation's sake.

[pants144]

man, if we still had Oakley on staff i'd be all over this idea!!!... the Kings would be dumb to give him up for anything we would offer though. i mean this is the reason he fell to them at #5, you have to presume some bumps in the road ahead.

[JamieMcNeill]

Not sure why there is a separate trade board. You'd get more participation if you left it on the main board. It's separation for separation's sake.

When Larry "Everyone's Available" Brown was still here pushing Higgins around there were so many trade rumors and people making up trades that it necessitated the separate board. It also helps to discourage a barrage of completely made up espn trade machine posts. Happens frequently once the losing starts.

[SWedd523]

Don't know why people look at which board it's on anyway. "New Posts" link FTW

[adam187]

It would be nice to have Cousins, he's definitely talented. I just don't know if we have the right environment for him where we wouldn't have many of the same issues they have in Sactown. Maybe Silas could keep him in line. I'm sure if Silas told him to go ahead and shoot to his heart's desire that might help. But I doubt things would work out here.

I also don't know if we have anything that desirable. DJ is a good piece as is Diaw, but dunno how appealing they are to the Kings. They already have a bunch of high scoring outside players: Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, Jimmer. Maybe if they view DJ as being a good distributor for those guys. And Diaw's expiring isn't that enticing to a team already flush with cap space. The best, and seemingly fair, trade for both teams would probably be DJ, Tyrus, and the Portland pick for Cousins.

Most likely he'll end up on some other team. I think Houston might be the most logical fit. I just have no idea what Cousin's value is around the league, especially with the Kings making those public statements. It would definitely be interesting if we managed to snag him.

[ziggy]

Is Cousins:

- hopelessly insane
- really crazy
- a little eccentric
- very immature with little hope of growing up.
- slightly immature and just needs a little more time and guidance to mature.

Which of these categories are we working with?

[ohara831]

Is Cousins:

- hopelessly insane
- really crazy
- a little eccentric
- very immature with little hope of growing up.
- slightly immature and just needs a little more time and guidance to mature.

Which of these categories are we working with?

Possibly all of the above. But when you add in "extremely talented with a very high ceiling", it becomes a very interesting question as to whether you take a shot at trading for him. I understand those who are opposed as well as those like myself who would dearly love to have him here.

[G Wuh Wuh Wuh Wallace]

I want him. He fills a need would immediately get 30 plus mins a night. New start, one of the most like-able coaches in the league. He would fit in with our young core. Do it I say! I just hope we could send them our headcase (tyrus) in exchange.

DJ and Tyrus our 2013 portland pick with their 2nd comming back to us?

[Dcarnys]

Please do this!!!!!!!

[dav7z]

I agree, I just don't think mgmt is looking to make any moves unfortunately...

Management is looking to make moves every day. Im not saying we going after Cousins . But im sure CHO is and has been working on 100s of trades. In his mind that makes us better long term long term.

[Boomer]

I want him. He fills a need would immediately get 30 plus mins a night. New start, one of the most like-able coaches in the league. He would fit in with our young core. Do it I say! I just hope we could send them our headcase (tyrus) in exchange.

DJ and Tyrus our 2013 portland pick with their 2nd comming back to us?


Yes please, in a heartbeat. We get Tyrus off the books too.

[Chef]

the kings are now saying no deals. may be damage control, may be truth who knows. if i were running the kings i would move evans. although cousins is a head case and i would make it clear this trade is not about pacifying him, they clearly do not have enough shots to go around and evans is much more of a sf or sg than he is a point. here is a deal i would take:

hou out: flynn, thabeet, knicks AND rockets 2012 1sts if neither of the two are above 10. if one is they get only that one.

hou in: evans

[ND22]

the kings are now saying no deals. may be damage control, may be truth who knows. if i were running the kings i would move evans. although cousins is a head case and i would make it clear this trade is not about pacifying him, they clearly do not have enough shots to go around and evans is much more of a sf or sg than he is a point. here is a deal i would take:

hou out: flynn, thabeet, knicks AND rockets 2012 1sts if neither of the two are above 10. if one is they get only that one.

hou in: evans

Evans won't be moved because he is the face of the franchise, and moving your potential star when the team could be leaving Sacramento would not bode well. I'm not sure why the Kings aren't at least entertaining offers for Cousins, they could potentially get the starting PG they want while dumping a guy who doesn't want to be there or more realistically, has no idea what he wants.

[Chef]

Evans won't be moved because he is the face of the franchise, and moving your potential star when the team could be leaving Sacramento would not bode well. I'm not sure why the Kings aren't at least entertaining offers for Cousins, they could potentially get the starting PG they want while dumping a guy who doesn't want to be there or more realistically, has no idea what he wants.

evans isn't a star or potential star and the whole league knows it. he doesn't have a defined position. cousins could end up being a dominate big man if he ever gets it. evans will never be d wade which is the type of game he plays.

[adam187]

Paul Westphal just got fired.

[Chef]

Paul Westphal just got fired.

guess the kings just chose which direction they are headed.

[adam187]

guess the kings just chose which direction they are headed.

i hope they bring in larry brown.

[teej]

i hope they bring in larry brown.

Oh God yes. We'd have whoever we wanted for Diop and DJ in about 48 hours.

[Marvel]

Drummond.

Sent from my ass using Bumscratch.

[kings locster]

the Kings would be dumb to give him up for anything we would offer though. i mean this is the reason he fell to them at #5, you have to presume some bumps in the road ahead.

Thats right, if DMC was on your roster would you trade him? The kid is a mega talent and could pass Howard for best 5 in the nba in no time.

[kickazzz2000]

Thats right, if DMC was on your roster would you trade him? The kid is a mega talent and could pass Howard for best 5 in the nba in no time.

Or he could become Andray "Knucklehead" Blatche