If Celtics landed the 2015 #1 draft pick, would u trade it for DeMarcus Cousins?

[chambers]

If Celtics landed the #1 NBA drat pick, would you trade it for DeMarcus Cousins?

*Entering talks as the best big man in the NBA.
*Under contract until 2018 (3 more seasons) and on the young side of 24 years old.
*Reasonable to good chance of becoming franchise player in many experts eyes.
*Attitude questions and selfishness concerns grow

It's a tough decision with a VERY sour taste if things don't work out perfectly- but risks like this are often taken in championship team building like when ac Randolph was traded to the Grizzlies.
 I think I ultimately would take this risk and do this trade. With our locker room and Danny's ability with free agents and deal making I think we'd be one of the best chances of turning him into a superstar. Bring KG out of retirement as an assistant coach and build around Smart and Cousins (and Sully/Olynyk/Young).

On the other hand, I can see why some would want to steer clear and keep this a ground up rebuild that focuses on building through Brad stevens coaching and development and avoids Cousins' potentially deadly locker room issues.

[Chris22]

I'd rather have Okafor.

No knuckleheads.

[BleedGreen1989]

I'd take Okafor.

I don't think we'll be a whole lot better next season (record wise) and Boogie wants to be on a winning team.

[Granath]

Unless I thought Cousins was an absolute cancer, I don't see how you don't make that trade. He's averaging 24/12, plays good defense, can pass the ball (3 assists per game), shoots FTs very well and so forth. The guy has improved his game every year. You'd thank the gods if your #1 pick put up those kind of stats.

Also, most attitude problems - though not all - tend to diminish with maturity. The Kings franchise tends to be a mess in the back office, so that probably doesn't help Cousins either. Put him with a player's coach like Brad and a strong front office and he'd probably be fine.

So you get Cousins, sign another good FA (or trade for a player with the fifty billion other picks the Celtics have) and you're instantly competitive for a top playoff spot in the East. When you pair him with solid guys like Sully at PF, you make a deal for a scoring SF, Bradley can gamble on defense again at SG with Cousins behind him and Smart plays lockdown defense...that's a tough team to beat. Never mind having a guy like KO off the bench and letting Young round into the scoring assassin that everyone believes he can be.

[Who]

Yes -- Cousins more proven player. Has become good defender. More well-rounded on offense.

Okafor is much more of a question mark than Cousins is.

[GreenGoggles]

No I wouldn't and I am a HUGE Boogie fan, but I thought he had got his maturity problems figured out and he hasn't. When he was fresh in the league I gave him a pass because of his age and situation.

However, HE signed an extension with that train wreck of a team and HE is the undisputed best player and leader now. He has no right in my mind to complain about being stuck with that franchise, it was his choice.

He's 25, time to start acting like it. Immense talent but I am truly afraid he's going to waste it away feeling sorry for himself.

[Chris22]

Cousins can't even handle Marcus Smart's defense, can you imagine how he would break down under the pressure of the playoffs?

[GetLucky]

Yes. Okafor's ceiling is Cousin's offense with worse defense due to his lack of athleticism. No one can sell me that he'll change that. Just look at Kelly O, who has worked his butt off to only marginal improvement and Sully, who hasn't worked at all and still has a large behind. Cousins is also locked up and young (24). In fact, age-wise, Cousins fits more with our current group (AB, Crowder, Smart, etc.).

Take into account, however, that I have a great deal of faith in Stevens's ability to corral Cousins. Cousins's biggest issue in the league has been his weak mentality combined with even weaker organizational stability (the Kings have been sold, protested, been through 3 coaches, almost moved, etc.). I feel that coming to the Celtics with a united front office and a players' coach would do wonders for him.

[Roy H.]

Yes, especially if Sacramento would take back Wallace's contract.

[mgent]

Yes, twice on Sundays.

[GreenWarrior]

I don't understand how a Celtics fan can honestly say they'd want Cousins. 8 Cousins wouldn't equal a KG. I just don't see a player like Cousins surviving in Boston. not after that game against us where his body language and intelligence shined and showed what kind of mentality he has. these were things that will ultimately define a player when things aren't going your way.

no thanks, he has no heart.

[fitzhickey]

Yes x 10. I think Cousins "mental problems" are well overblown, plus he is basically Okafor's ceiling just with better defence than Okafor will ever achieve.

[Csfan1984]

I would take him. Especially if I have vets to help him channel his emotion. He is not a dumb player he makes a ton of smart plays. He is skilled and capable. He has a killer instinct as well. Coaching and teammates are important  though as he loses his cool way too much. He reminds me of Sheed. When Cousins has it together he is a top ten player.

[slamtheking]

would be hard to say no.  only question I have is how he'd handle coming to another losing environment.  unless pulls off some surprising deals to put another couple of very good players with him, this team will struggle for the length of his contract. 

the selling point of Okafor is that he'd be developing right along with the rest of the talent and we'd be surrounding him with other good developing talent so that when he's coming off his rookie deal, we should be on the upswing in the standings.

[mikestar]

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