NBA Rumors: Kings Lack Leadership to Develop a Player Like DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins is a talented, but complicated player. The Kings knew this when they selected him fifth overall in the 2010 draft. They were banking on being able to get the most out of his immense set of skills.

At 6'11" and almost 300 pounds, Cousins has a back-to-the-basket game, long arms and the agility to dominate. There is one big problem: he lacks maturity. This was further demonstrated over the past two days in a conflict with Kings head coach, Paul Westphal, that apparently resulted in a impromptu trade demand.

If one person said Cousins has an attitude problem, you could take it as a possible personality conflict, but when the consensus on a guy is that he is own worst enemy, there has to be some credence to the notion. From Jay Bilas to Cousins' current head coach, Paul Westphal, the big man just doesn't seem to want to play by the rules.

To get the most out of a player like Cousins, it takes leadership, and the Kings don't have that. It is a young team, and Westphal isn't exactly a disciplinarian or a guy who relates well to players.

In Phoenix, Charles Barkley's personality and influence dominated that team. Many basketball fans would probably stumble if you asked them who the head coach was for the Suns in the early 1990s when they reached the NBA Finals. It was Westphal.

To develop Cousins, a head coach with a strong personality is needed.

Even with that, they must possess a realistic method of dealing with today's players. Cousins should never have been added to a young roster like the Kings. His immature behavior will damage the psyche of young players not yet committed to a solid work ethic or approach.

A roster like the Boston Celtics or San Antonio Spurs would have been ideal, and if the Kings are indeed interested in trading him, those organizations are the best fit.

Cousins has since clarified his suppose trade demand, and I believe him, but the fact that he would float that type of notion shows his immaturity. 

Cousins has a tattoo that reads "misunderstood," so that tells you this isn't the first time he's had problems with authority and structure.

Hopefully, he will find himself in a better situation, so he can get a new tattoo that says "matured."