Not a Sun: Kings to trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans, per report
Feb 19, 2017, 9:07 PM | Updated: Feb 20, 2017, 6:19 pm
Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins, second from left, goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
DeMarcus Cousins was on the trade market after all. He’s just not coming to the Phoenix Suns.
Despite Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac doubling down that his team would not deal the All-Star center, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the Kings have agreed upon a deal sending Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for rookie Buddy Hield, veteran Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a first-round pick and a second-round pick.
Sacramento will reportedly also include Omri Casspi in the trade.
For the Suns, the news is notable considering Phoenix had previously discussed a Cousins trade with the Kings, according to Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro. The Suns’ offer included T.J. Warren, Alex Len and their 2017 first-round draft pick that is likely to be in the top-3.
On a podcast Monday, Wojnarowski was making a point regarding Cousins’ impending free agent status in the summer of 2018. He said Cousins’ agent made it known to other teams that there was a possibility he wouldn’t re-sign with the team that traded for him. Wojnarowski mentioned Phoenix, but clarified his comment and said Phoenix wasn’t actually that interested.
He might not stay in New Orleans, or he might not stay in Phoenix or anywhere else — and I’m using Phoenix as a hypothetical. They really didn’t have much interest in giving up anything for Cousins.
According to a source of Kevin O’Connor’s at The Ringer, a deal from the Suns had a lot attached to it.
Per a separate source, the Suns were offering a package of players and multiple first-round draft picks (including one or both of their upcoming Miami picks), but the Kings declined.
Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher said Phoenix was in the running for a trade but Kings did not want to take on Brandon Knight’s contract that pays out as much as $15.6 million and runs through 2019-20.
Source w/reasons Pels got Boogie: Cs (too focussed on getting Butler), Orl (could've had him, balked) & Phx (Sac didn't want BKnight).
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) February 20, 2017
Los Angeles fell out of the running when it refused to include rookie Brandon Ingram in the trade, reports Wojnarowski.
Like the Boston Celtics’ deep trove of future draft picks, Phoenix’s collection of assets stacked up fairly well when it comes to teams who have enough assets to put together a package for a star player like Cousins.
Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the NBA and the Kings were hopeful to keep trade talks quiet as to not distract from the All-Star game. Cousins, meanwhile, played just two minutes in the game.
Cousins is averaging 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this year. He is up for an extension this summer and is under contract through 2017-18.
In Sacramento, Cousins has developed into arguably the best center in the NBA, but that comes with questionable antics. Cousins’ temper has gotten the best of him throughout his career, and he leads the league with 19 technical fouls this season.
