A Royal Pain
Fansided

Slideshow: Ultimate Lineup of Former Sacramento Kings’ Draft Picks

By Michael Dugger

Jan 24, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas (22) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half of their NBA basketball game at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
Jan 24, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas (22) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half of their NBA basketball game at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. /
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January 8, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors defeated the Kings 117-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 8, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors defeated the Kings 117-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Power Forward: DeMarcus Cousins

It’s not often a team trades their best player in a decade while fighting for a playoff berth, but that’s exactly what the Kings did this season when they shipped their former fifth overall choice, DeMarcus Cousins, down to the bayou.

Cousins is viewed as top-tier talent in the NBA but had a tumultuous relationship with the front office which led to his departure. The blame can go both ways on why the Kings failed to develop as a team around him, but the organization decided it was best to completely reload and move on.

Cousins’ on-court production is remarkable, though. He’s a four-time All-Star and was a member of the United States basketball team that claimed gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Cousins sits sixth in Kings history in points and points averaged a game, fourth in rebounds averaged and posted the second highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) behind only Oscar Robertson (per Basketball Reference).

Cousins is also a low-post force who has extended his range to the three-point line with the ability to take defenders off the dribble if needed. The Kings received Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and a top-three protected pick in this year’s draft for Cousins and the aforementioned Casspi. The haul seems small, but we will see if Hield and the player we select with the extra draft pick can make up for the loss of Cousins.

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