Royal Roundtable: Is DeMarcus Cousins Tradable?

By Rafe Wong | Dec 26, 2015

For the first time this season “A Royal Pain” has produced its first “Royal Roundtable” discussion. During these discussions a topic is released pertaining the Sacramento Kings, and the members of ARP will give their intake on the topic. Throughout this article you will see the variety of opinions our writers have given. Enjoy!

TOPIC: Rumor is out that the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat are in contention to “potentially grabbing” DeMarcus Cousins via trade. Cousins is one of the top talents in the NBA, and seems pretty much untradable. However, is there a deal out there (with any team) that exists where Cousins could be dealt, and realistically that both teams could agree on?

Rafe (@rafnation): Most likely there is not a deal pertaining Cousins that I see both teams agreeing on. If the Kings are willing to trade Boogie, they would probably want to exchange him for another star player back, which I think other teams are unwilling to do.

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I think other teams are looking to add Cousins in hopes of building a dynamic duo or trio. Therefore they are not willing to give up any major pieces that are currently on their rosters. Or they are like the Celtics or Lakers who want him to be the #1 guy but have no assets to give back.

Zack (@Zack_Zolmer): I agree, Rafe. In a trade for Cousins, there’s no way Chicago would include Jimmy Butler (pretty much the only guy they have of comparable age and value to DeMarcus), so in any scenario where Sacramento emerges from a trade with the Bulls sans Boogie, it’s tough to see a package of value equal to that of Chicago’s.

Miami’s rookie, Justise Winslow, is an intriguing young prospect, the kind that would have to be included in any trade involving Cousins, but he, alone, is not enough. Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Chris Bosh are almost too old, too old, too old and probably too old, respectively. The idea of Hassan Whiteside returning scares me.

The best Boston could offer would be some combination of draft picks (namely the unprotected 2016 first-rounder formerly of Brooklyn) and young, ultimately unspectacular players in relation to Cousins–guys like Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, James Young, R.J. Hunter, Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger.

Now, obviously, the Sacramento Kings would be lucky to have a few of those contributors on today’s roster. But at the expense of losing DeMarcus? No chance. Wait. If Boston throws in Brad Stevens, maybe. Oh, coaches can’t be traded? Ok. Instead, on the condition that Boston “agrees to release him from his current contract,” and that Stevens more or less agrees to coach the Kings. That’s legal? That’s legal. So maybe.

Dec 8, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) between plays against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Gabe (@Gabecal): Out of Chicago, Miami and Boston, I would prefer a deal with Boston. With Danny Ainge having a Santa sack of draft picks to deal, it would be the best value for DeMarcus.

So it depends on if you want the Kings to go through another rebuilding year by swapping DeMarcus for some young talent and a handful of 1st round draft picks. Even though the thought of draft picks is exciting, I don’t want Sacramento to become another Philadelphia.

It’s not my idea, but I could get behind a trade with the Magic. Orlando has good up and coming players that already make an impact. They wouldn’t let go of Victor Oladipo… But how does a Nikola Vucevic, Mario Hezonja and a pick for Boogie offer sound to you? I wouldn’t mind seeing how that Kings roster plays.

I feel because of the trades Sacramento made this past offseason it would be nice for them to recoup some draft picks if they deal Cousins. A straight up player-for-players trade where the Kings get 2-3 guys for Boogie just seem like a missed opportunity and honestly unimaginative.

Another thing to consider, if the Kings trade Cousins, do they keep Rudy Gay? Or Rajon Rondo? I honestly see Gay going in a separate trade if Cousins gets traded. I’d honestly hate to see Boogie go though.

Rafe (@rafnation): For the Orlando trade, Oladipo must be put into the offer in my opinion, and even if they do add him in I still wouldn’t accept it. For Orlando to be able to land Cousins, they would probably have to give up Oladipo, Gordon, Vucevic, Hezonja, and multiple draft picks, which Orlando would never do.

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If the Kings even consider trading Cousins, they must make sure they get a home run in return. That also means that trading Cousins with a package of Gay or Rondo seems improbable as well.

Gabe (@Gabecal): Boogie is a linchpin for a lot of the teams. If he is traded, Gay probably gets traded separately as well. Then Rondo will follow I’m guessing. Then does Omri Casspi stay? I don’t know.

But trade scenarios for Cousins, realistic or not, are interesting. You get to see how the Kings can become better by losing one of the NBA’s best big men.

Say the Kings trade Cousins for Andre Drummond and Stanley Johnson. Drummond fills almost all the holes Cousins leaves behind, plus they pick up a rookie first rounder.

Some teams have a couple of guys that would be great pick ups for Sacramento. Boogie for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Boogie for Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Pekovic.

And this is what the Kings head office have to consider: What would be better? Blowing up the team with a DeMarcus Cousins trade. Or staying the course with Rondo, Cousins, Gay and Casspi?

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