DeMarcus Cousins: New Year, Same Attitude as Kings Center Demands Trade

The Sacramento Kings are in a world of trouble right now with their current situation with forward DeMarcus Cousins.

The second-year pro has demanded a trade and has been told to stay home. Coach Paul Westphal issued this statement regarding the situation:

"

Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life!

As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.

Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public. This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.

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.

"

This is a crushing blow for a 1-3 team trying to build some sort of team chemistry early on in the season. 

The fifth pick in the 2010 draft has had issues in the past. He was suspended for fighting with a teammate on a flight. His volatile personality instantly clashed with Westphal and it bubbled to the surface in last night’s 114-92 loss to the Knicks. Cousins was 2-of-10 from the field, he seemed disinterested on the court and subtly jabbed his coach in the postgame press conference.

Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee is reporting that Cousins never demanded a trade, but why would the team have to release a statement like that?

Cousins has all of the talent in the world, but he can’t seem to put it together mentally. The issue at hand seems to be that Cousins simply doesn’t like the new coach and is being extremely selfish with his actions. Plenty of players clash with their coaches, but that doesn’t mean you just quit on them four games into a new season.

Cousins is showing absolutely no patience here and it’s putting the organization in a huge bind. With the public demand, teams can low-ball the Kings into an offer that nets Cousins for 50 cents on the dollar.

The 21-year-old has all the talent in the world and can be re-made with the right coaching staff, but what’s the right coaching staff?

Cousins completely threw his teammates and coaching staff under the bus today. Be angry, Sacramento fans.