DeMarcus Cousins Trade Rumors: Latest News and Speculation on Kings Star
DeMarcus Cousins' future with the Sacramento Kings is uncertain heading into the offseason. If the team does make him available via the trade market, he will be a highly coveted commodity around the NBA.
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Boston Celtics Interested
Friday, May 1
Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports sources around the league believe the Boston Celtics and team president Danny Ainge may try to accelerate their retooling process by moving future assets for Cousins:
"The good news for Boston: Ainge and his staffers are creative and aggressive and understand all of those dynamics as well as anyone else. And that's why the Celtics realize their next major talent infusion is perhaps even more likely to come via trade rather than free-agent signings.
Will they open their war chest of future draft picks to try to pry DeMarcus Cousins away from Sacramento via trade? The early word out there is: Bank on it.
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Head coach Brad Stevens deserves a lot of credit for pushing a team that lacked top-end talent into the playoffs—even in the weaker Eastern Conference. That said, the need for upgrades was evident as the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Celtics in the opening round.
Cousins would fit the bill. According to ESPN's Hollinger stats, he ranked inside the league's top 10 in three key advanced statistics: player efficiency rating (ninth), value added (ninth) and estimated wins added (tied for ninth). He averaged 24.1 points to go along with nearly 13 rebounds (12.7) and two blocks (1.7) per game.
Exactly what the Kings, who finished 29-53 despite Cousins' impact, would demand in return is unclear. But Boston does own a large group of draft picks, including four selections in the upcoming 2015 NBA draft.
If Sacramento wants to go in another direction and start fresh with young talent, it may be tough to find a better trade partner than the Celtics.
