NBA Trade Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on DeMarcus Cousins, Stanley Johnson and More
Poor performances. Bad fits. The need to rebuild. An overload of players at one position. Impending free agency. All are solid reasons to move on from a player, and all generally lead to a barrel of rumors during the NBA season.
Such was the case below, where we'll break down some of the latest buzz making the rounds.
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Sacramento Kings
Another day, another DeMarcus Cousins rumor. The latest addition to the ongoing series comes from Adam Kaufman of WBZ NewsRadio:
This, of course, is contingent on two things that have seemed pretty unlikely to this point:
- The Sacramento Kings actually showing a willingness to trade Cousins
- The Boston Celtics actually showing a willingness to move the first-round pick they'll be receiving from the Brooklyn Nets that almost assuredly will be a top-five selection
Certainly, Cousins in Boston would make sense.
The Celtics need an upgrade at center, and Cousins is in the process of putting together his best statistical season. He'd pair nicely with Al Horford on the block and give the team a legitimate superstar. The Celtics have the right combination of picks and players (some combination of Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown would likely head to Sacramento) to make the deal go down.
But remember, Cousins recently told Marc Stein of ESPN.com that he was comfortable with Sacramento's management and happy with the team. Not exactly the words of a man clamoring to get away from a team, and unless the Kings decide to start selling off assets for a full rebuild—which, let's be honest, is what they should do—the only way they'll move Cousins is if he tells them he won't re-sign with the team in the summer of 2018.
Until then, well, the rumors will continue to be just noise.
Stanley Johnson, SF, Detroit Pistons
Stanley Johnson's sophomore season has been a disappointment to this point. The promising swingman, buried on Stan Van Gundy's bench, is averaging just 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. The Detroit Pistons even sent him down to the NBA Development League so he would earn more playing time.
"I enjoyed playing," Johnson said after scoring 26 points for the Grand Rapids Drive on Saturday night, per I enjoyed playing without having to look over my shoulder and check for somebody trying to take me out of the game. I knew I was going to play a certain amount of minutes. We played the game I know to play."
Johnson's fall from grace with the Pistons has resulted in his name circulating in trade rumors, though the Pistons don't seem likely to cut ties just yet, as Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago wrote:
"Sources have told CSNChicago.com the Pistons have resisted overtures for Johnson but with the recent developments, expect executives for rival teams to be more aggressive.
No one can deny what Johnson can physically bring to the table and if teams view him as an undervalued commodity by the Pistons, things can get interesting with the trade season kicking off December 15.
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It seems unlikely the Pistons will give up on Johnson just yet given his physical tools. Detroit hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in general, so Johnson hasn't been the only player failing to live up to expectations (though injuries certainly haven't helped).
File this one under "unlikely but possible" in the rumor bin for now.
Omer Asik, C, New Orleans Pelicans
The sky is falling in New Orleans, and Omer Asik isn't providing any shelter. Asik was supposed to be a complement at center to superstar power forward Anthony Davis but instead is averaging just 3.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game.
So, yes, he's likely on the trade block. Just don't expect the Celtics to come calling. From A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com:
"Omer Asik, the rim-protecting big man who has not been nearly as impactful in the Big Easy as he was in Chicago, is very much available a league source has told CSNNE.com.
While the Celtics were rumored to have had interest in him when he was in Chicago as well as during his time with the Pelicans, another league source indicated they anticipate the Celtics will take a wait-and-see approach with any potential trade that doesn't significantly enhance their chances at making a deep playoff run and being a contender in the East along with defending champion Cleveland and Toronto.
"Danny has enough good players," the source said. "He's looking for a star, or at least someone who is trending in that direction. It makes sense. Look at that team now. That's the only thing they're missing, really."
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But here's the thing: Who really wants Asik right now? What type of value does he possibly have on the market?
Asik averaged a double-double for the Houston Rockets in the 2012-13 season (10.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG), but since then, his play has been a disappointment. Outside of a decent campaign in 2014-15 (7.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG) in his maiden voyage with the Pelicans, Asik has been a bust.
Perhaps teams will see him as a player in need of a change in system. But it's hard to imagine the Pelicans getting much more than a rotation player for Asik at this point.
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