The Kings Have A Tough Decision To Make
The decision regarding the future of DeMarcus Cousins has been weighing on the Kings for years. Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee describes the Kings’ dilemma. Do they trade him to long-time suitors, the Boston Celtics, the division rival Phoenix Suns, or hold onto their troubled superstar?
Kings general manager Vlade Divac told ESPN that he wasn’t trading Cousins and the franchise was moving in the direction of a $219 million contract extension. For the sake of argument, Let’s say the franchise comes to their senses in the next two weeks.
The Kings have a record of 184-384 during Cousins’ tenure with the team including zero playoff appearances and six head coaches in his seven seasons. His six and a half seasons have been more about his antics on and off the court. Most recently, he was fined for verbally berating a journalist over a negative article. Very mature. The 26-year-old is the most controversial player in the league.
The NBA was aware of Cousins situation in recent days. Strong sense that a penalty is coming. May be a couple days. https://t.co/YyWS95Cn65
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) December 17, 2016
There’s a reason Sacramento hasn’t traded him yet. Cousins was just named to his third straight All-Star team and is playing the best basketball of his career. Like many big men in this season, he added the three-point shot to his game, and it’s paid off. Cousins is taking 4.7 threes per game and making them at a 36.7 percent clip. All of those makes have his scoring average up to a career-high 28.1 points per game. That’s good for fourth in the league.
Like many big men in this season, he added the three-point shot to his game, and it’s paid off. Cousins is taking 4.7 threes per game and making them at a 36.7 percent clip. All of those makes have his scoring average up to a career-high 28.1 points per game. That’s good for fourth in the league.
The Kings are bad with Cousins, but without him, they’d be Brooklyn Nets bad. Maybe even full-blown Philadelphia 76ers tank mode bad. Per NBA.com, the Kings score three points per 100 possessions more with Cousins on the court (108.0) and seven points per 100 possessions less (97.9) with him off. Trading him would be going into a full-blown tank and clearly, ownership isn’t ready to do that.
The Kings have never surrounded Cousins with enough talent to make him a winner and the one time they gave him a coach he clicked with they fired him. The best thing for Boogie is if they dumped him off on the Celtics.
