NBA Rumors: Latest DeMarcus Cousins Trade Buzz, Knicks Turmoil and More

The NBA looks like some odd video game simulation right now.

Mostly, it's one a user will be pleasantly surprised with and keep playing. Unexpected upstarts such as the Los Angeles Lakers look good, the Golden State Warriors don't have too many chemistry issues with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder haven't completely fallen off the map.

Then again, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Endless DeMarcus Cousins rumors continue to pop up. The New York Knicks still look like a mess. Teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers continue to flounder.

As usual, the rumors market is a good way to keep up with it all. Here's a look at the latest rumblings fans should know.

Knicks Turmoil?

Things were supposed to be better this year for the New York Knicks.

The team traded for Derrick Rose and inked his former partner Joakim Noah to a deal. Yet the team has started 2-4, Carmelo Anthony leads the team in scoring at 22.8 points per game and Kristaps Porzingis isn't far off.

New head coach Jeff Hornacek has had the offense playing at a fast pace and playing off Rose's strengths in a pick-and-roll look, yet it hasn't been enough.

According to ESPN.com’s Ian Begley, team president Phil Jackson wants to see more of the triangle offense employed—but his players might not.

"According to sources, some Knicks players have expressed their displeasure over the offense because they feel it doesn’t suit their personnel, particularly point guard Derrick Rose, who has traditionally thrived when using pick-and-rolls," Begley wrote.

At the least, one can reasonably expect an offense featuring Rose and Anthony to even out. What gets lost in the hype of these rumblings is a defense that has already allowed north of 100 points in all six games. These shortcomings explain why ESPN’s Marc Stein revealed the Knicks will make a change to how the staff addresses the area:

It's awfully early in the season for a team to make changes like this. But expectations in the Big Apple loom large, and six games has been enough of a sample size for those in charge to make changes.

If the Knicks are lucky, turning things around will quiet any rumblings of displeasure.

Celtics Eyeing Noel?

Everyone's favorite team that's seemingly always involved with trade rumors and big names is at it again. 

This refers to the Boston Celtics and president Danny Ainge, of course. After loads of speculation around the team and its three first-round picks last year, of which little of note happened, the front office at least added Al Horford in free agency. 

On paper, this boost would push a roster that already made the playoffs to do so again. 

Anyone familiar with the process knows the Celtics won't hop off the mill.

According to the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn, the Celtics might consider a move for Nerlens Noel of the 76ers after the two sides couldn't agree to an extension.

"But it seems the 76ers have decided to move Noel, who will now be a restricted free agent this summer. The Celtics have long admired Noel, so don’t be surprised if they make an offer next summer, hoping to pair the Everett [Massachusetts] native with Al Horford in the frontcourt," Washburn wrote.

The move makes plenty of sense on paper. Boston has most areas of the starting lineup set besides power forward, where Amir Johnson and others fight for playing time unless the coaches go with a small-ball approach.

Noel is an interesting option at 22 years old. Over the two seasons he's been healthy, he's posted averages of 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. As a defensive counterpart to Horford, he's a good fit, provided he can stay healthy.

As usual, this one might not gain traction. With the Celtics off to a 3-3 start, though, it's something worth watching.

DeMarcus Cousins Latest

Alongside the consistent Boston rumblings sits Cousins, the man on an island known as the Sacramento Kings.

Those Kings are off to a 4-5 start, though the whispers around Cousins likely would have started either way. Cousins has one year left on his current deal, so the Kings approach the danger zone of either making a decision or losing him in return for nothing, provided he wants to leave.

One Western Conference executive gave Sam Amico of Amico Hoops an interesting number when asked about the likelihood of Cousins moving: “I’d say it’s 50-50. If not, it’s not necessarily because they want to keep him.”

With the Kings merely shrug-worthy since his arrival in 2010, odds seem strong that the decision to deal Cousins hinges more on what would-be partners are willing to cough up than anything.

“They’ll never get what they want in return,” an Eastern Conference general manager told Amico.

Probably not. Cousins is now 26 years old and coming off a season in which he averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. But he's also the guy who runs into problems with referees at a consistent clip and committed six fouls in one quarter recently.

It doesn't help that Cousins and the Kings seem headed for an obvious split. A major-market team thinking itself a contender with Cousins on board, such as the Lakers, won't sell the farm to acquire him by trade, though the Kentucky product will likely have them as one of his top choices on the market.

Alas, like those in Boston, these rumors have just begun.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.