NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz DeMarcus Cousins, Andrew Bogut and More

The NBA trade rumors are about to heat up on Dec. 15, when players signed as free agents are finally eligible to be traded.

Let's break down some of the latest buzz ahead of the unofficial opening of the trade season.   

DeMarcus Cousins, C, Sacramento Kings

Outside of perhaps only Nerlens Noel in Philadelphia—who is stuck in a three-center rotation with Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor—it's unlikely any player will receive more trade buzz in the next few months than Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.

It makes sense. The Kings have limped out to another poor start to the season. Cousins is set to be a free agent after next season and will garner a huge return if he's dealt.

But it seems the Kings aren't quite ready to go down that road, per Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

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Sources with knowledge of Sacramento’s thinking say the Kings believe it’s still on the early side to seriously entertain the idea of parting with Cousins, even with the clock ticking toward the final season of Cousins’ four-year max extension from 2013 and his unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2018.

Interested teams out there, of course, continue to contend that Sacramento will be staring at the unavoidable prospect of yet another season with less than 40 wins come February. The Kings will then ultimately feel compelled, along the lines of such thinking, to submit to the suggestion that it’s wisest to part with Cousins before he enters his contract year, since keeping him beyond February could theoretically make it even tougher on them to get something resembling equal value for the polarizing big man.

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As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders suggested, the ball is probably in Cousins' court:

But Cousins doesn't seem inclined to demand a trade at the moment, telling Stein:

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I talk to management a lot. We’re on the same page. I’m not worried about it. To know that you’re wanted throughout the league ... I’d be worried if nobody wanted me. Then I’d have a situation on my hands. But I’m happy where I am. I’m happy with this team. I’m in a great place.

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At some point, the Kings are going to have to make a choice. Are they all-in on the 26-year-old Cousins no matter what—even if that means another losing season, as Cousins doesn't have many viable options supporting him—or does it make more sense to deal Cousins for a lucrative package of picks and young players and start to rebuild?

If the Kings continue at their current pace, logic should dictate they choose the latter option and deal the talented but mercurial center. Certainly, if Cousins expresses any hesitation about dedicating his future to the organization, the Kings should consider dealing him and undergoing a full rebuild through the draft.

But at the moment, it appears neither the Kings nor Cousins is ready to cross that bridge.

Andrew Bogut, C, Dallas Mavericks

Speaking of centers who could be on the move, Andrew Bogut—mired in the Dallas Mavericks' dreadful start to the season—has been receiving interest from at least one team, per Stein:

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Boston has already emerged as a team interested in trading for Dallas center Andrew Bogut, and here’s another team that makes sense: Portland. The Mavericks have yet to make Bogut available for potential deals, per ESPN’s own Tim MacMahon, but the Blazers are a natural suitor given their clear need for a defensive anchor at the rim as the league’s 30th-ranked defense as of Friday morning.

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MacMahon's full report reads as follows:

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Sources tell ESPN that Mavs have no immediate intention to shop C Andrew Bogut, as their focus for now is trying to salvage their season. However, Mavs management recognizes that Bogut has significant value in the trade market as a proven championship-caliber complementary piece in a contract year and could become motivated to move him if and when it becomes clear that the Mavs have no hope of making the playoffs this season. Several league sources said the Mavs should be able to get a first-round pick from a contender for Bogut.

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The big question is at what point the Mavs might decide their season isn't salvageable, and that will largely depend on Dirk Nowitzki's health the rest of the year.

If Nowitzki returns and Dallas plays well enough to resuscitate postseason hopes—yes, it's an incredible long shot—dealing Bogut wouldn't necessarily make sense. But if Dallas continues to struggle and the injuries continue to mount, moving on from Bogut would make sense.

Looking at the Dallas roster, Harrison Barnes remains the team's most promising building block, while Seth Curry and Justin Anderson—even if he's struggled this season—are nice supporting pieces going forward. But with players like Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews, J.J. Barea, Deron Williams and Bogut all on the wrong side of 30, the Mavericks will have to do a full rebuild and become sellers if they decide the current roster is no longer competitive.

In what is considered to be one of the strongest draft classes in years, the Mavs may have picked the perfect time to struggle. It wouldn't be surprising if Bogut and a few other Mavs were ultimately moved.

Mario Hezonja, SG, Orlando Magic

In his second season with the Orlando Magic, 2015 fifth overall pick Mario Hezonja has continued to make his mark. The 21-year-old is averaging just 3.8 points in 11.1 minutes with the Magic this season, leading to buzz that he could be on the trade market after being sent down to the D-League, per Stein:

Giving up on Hezonja less than two seasons into his career—especially given that he was clearly more of a long-term project than an immediate star when he was drafted—seems hasty. But Hezonja seems a bit lost in Orlando right now, which head coach Frank Vogel hinted at after Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets, per Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:

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It's a tough thing where Mario's at right now. When you fall out of the rotation, it's tough to sustain your rhythm and timing without practices. And the kid's working his tail off. Every time I see him, he's sweating — after shootarounds, pregame, all that stuff. He's just working his tail off to stay ready, but it's not the same as playing 5-on-5 basketball. So he's a little bit out-of-sync with his rhythm and timing.

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The Magic clearly need some help on the perimeter, but giving up on a player with as much promise as Hezonja so early in his career to address that need would be surprising, especially with the team's glut of big men. 

Hezonja may be moved this year, but it would come as a surprise and could be the sort of decision that would come back to haunt the team years down the line.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.