NBA Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins Is New Jersey Nets' Key to Landing Dwight Howard

We're going to keep hearing Dwight Howard's name as a trade possibility until he's either traded, or signs an extension. But until now, very little new has developed from any prospective destinations. Things have changed. 

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the Nets are interested in acquiring DeMarcus Cousins from the Kings. Sacramento sent him home after he demanded a trade. Something is going to have to give there, and the Nets' interest is intriguing, to say the least. 

As Bondy points out, there are several reasons why the Nets would want a player like Cousins. But there's one that's just too hard to overlook. 

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The Nets (1-5), who will be without starting center Brook Lopez for at least another month, and could flip any trade acquisition for Dwight Howard, want to pick up the pieces.

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Take a look at what Cousins did in his rookie year, before turning 21. 

PPG	RPG	BPG
14.1	8.7	0.8

Even this season, he's off to a nice start, averaging better than 11 points, nearly 11 rebounds and more than one block a game. 

And, he's young. He would have potential appeal to the Magic because he can step in and play right now, but he's also young enough to build on. If you're in a small market, you need to find young players to build around.

Until last week, we weren't aware that any problems existed in Sacramento. The only way that Cousins' name would be tossed about in a Dwight Howard trade rumor is if someone thought he'd go to the Kings. To the best of my knowledge, those didn't exist. 

But now, we have an added mix to the pot. If the Nets are showing interest in him, it's not just because he's a good, young player. He might be a nice guy to have on the team if a subsequent move to Howard wouldn't work out, but as Bondy pointed out, the potential to flip him for Howard is too much to ignore.

If the Nets can pull the trigger on a trade to get Cousins, they'll have a nice, intriguing chip to bring in Howard. We haven't heard the last of this one.

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