Opinion: What to expect from Isaiah Cousins this season?
By Rafe Wong
On NBA draft night the Sacramento Kings invested their lone second-round draft pick on Isaiah Cousins from the University of Oklahoma.
Cousins brings versatility to the Kings roster. He is technically a point guard, but can play both guard positions because of his 6’4”/195-pound physique.
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Cousins also has the ability to score, pass, and rebound at a solid level for his position as he averaged 12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his final season with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Based on the production that Cousins has had in his collegiate career, he definitely has the capability to become a solid NBA guard in his future.
With that being said, however, how much of an asset will Cousins be with the Kings for this upcoming season?
Rafe’s Thoughts
It is unclear what role Isaiah Cousins will have in his rookie campaign. As of now, he and Darren Collison are the only pure point guards that are on the roster.
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If the player personnel remains the same until the season opener, Cousins by default would see some consistent minutes on the floor as the backup point guard. But there is a reason to believe that the roster will change as the summer progresses.
Rumors have surfaced that the purple and white have Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore, and Kosta Koufos on the trading block, most likely in an attempt to obtain a point guard in return.
If the Kings do indeed add another point guard on their roster, Cousins most likely would take a back seat.
It is a question mark on how the Kings will address their point guard situation, but I have mentioned in the past that I expect Sacramento to add another facilitator to their roster.
This would mean that I do see Cousins playing, like most of his other rookie counterparts, a minor role for the Kings this season.