NBA Trade Rumors: Sacramento Kings Stuck with DeMarcus Cousins

It's hard to tell exactly what is going on between the Sacramento Kings and sophomore big man DeMarcus Cousins.

What we know for sure is that Cousins and head coach Paul Westphal simply haven't gotten along with one another in the early goings this season. In statement released on New Year's Day, Westphal revealed that Cousins had gotten fed up to the point where he demanded a trade, for which Westphal ordered him to stay home while the Kings took on the New Orleans Hornets.

We also know that Cousins denies a trade request ever took place.

"I want to address my missing the New Orleans game Sunday," he said in a statement, per ESPN.com. "I have not demanded or requested a trade. I don't agree with the actions taken but will give my sincere effort to put it behind me and compete the best I can for my team."

Next up, we know that Cousins and the Kings kissed and made up on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Sort of, anyway. Cousins saw 22 minutes of action, but he didn't start.

Cousins could start again very soon, but Sacramento's ownership is leaving that up to Westphal.

"We leave that stuff (the benching) to the basketball people," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said on Tuesday, according to the Sacramento Bee, "but we're not trading him."

Add it all up (please take your time), and it's apparent that the Cousins situation seems to have come to some sort of head. I wouldn't say the situation is entirely resolved, but it has at least reached a stalemate that is reasonable enough for both sides.

For now, that'll have to do. Cousins and the Kings will have to tolerate each other, and perhaps come to love each other.

After all, it's not like Cousins' dream (or falsely reported dream) of being traded is going to actually come true. That would be the easy way out of Sacramento for him, but it's not going to be easy for the Kings to actually pull it off.

Via a Boston Herald source, here's the fundamental problem: "I’m not sure that any team is going to get him. The thing is that everyone knows he’s a wreck. They’re not going to get what he’s worth."

Because Cousins is a former No. 5 overall draft pick and an improving young player, he's worth a lot. It would take a talented player to get the Kings to listen, and it would likely take a first-round draft pick for them to pull the trigger.

Why would any team give up those kinds of assets for a player who clearly has maturity issues? If Cousins is willing to clash with Westphal, what's to stop him from clashing with any other coach in the league?

Nothing, that's what. Until he proves otherwise, Cousins is who he is.

If Cousins does prove that he can take orders and be a professional, he'll be worth a considerable asking price. The Kings could trade him then, but that wouldn't be very wise. Cousins has the potential to be a franchise center, and such players are rarer than unicorns in the NBA.

Long story short, the Kings really have no choice but to keep Cousins. Fortunately for them, things can only get better.

...I think.