Still think if Nets pick ends up top 5, you trade for DMC, and re-sign Rondo

[Monkhouse]

Rondo and Cousins have developed a very close relationship.

Rondo is also trying to impart some of the wisdom he received from former teammate Kevin Garnett to Cousins, Spears adds. When discussing the tirade Cousins unleashed upon Karl a few weeks ago, Rondo told the big man, “There is always a time and place. “[Cousins] saying what he was saying in front of the team. … The concept of what he was saying may not have been wrong, it’s just the delivery. I’ve had a lot of blowups and I’ve learned from them. I told him, ‘You’re wrong on how you did it. Your [message] might be right, but that’s when you go in his office and talk to him.’”

Despite Rondo being eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the season ends, Cousins expects the point guard to re-sign with the Kings and remain in Sacramento, Spears also relays in the same piece. “He ain’t going nowhere. I will kidnap him myself,” Cousins told Spears.

Then you either get a very good shooter at the 2 and 3.

I like Rondo, and I think on a team where a big man that can score is vital for him. I also wouldn't mind putting Smart at the 2, and I actually think that's the best position for him.

[colincb]

Here's the link to the story you cited.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/demarcus-cousins--rajon-rondo-have-positive--%E2%80%9Cpowerful%E2%80%9D-meeting-with-kings-coach-george-karl-223318996.html

I can't think of a reason that Kings would trade Cousins at this point.

[Monkhouse]

Here's the link to the story you cited.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/demarcus-cousins--rajon-rondo-have-positive--%E2%80%9Cpowerful%E2%80%9D-meeting-with-kings-coach-george-karl-223318996.html

I can't think of a reason that Kings would trade Cousins at this point.

I don't think so either, but I'm hoping the Kings make a huge mistake, (only time will tell, considering its happened before,) and completely alienates DMC. At this point even annoying Rondo may even drastically affect DMC's attitude towards the same organization.

[PhoSita]

(a) Rondo coming back does not make sense, nor do I expect it to make sense while Rondo is still a quality player.  Let's all move on.

(b) I still don't buy the Kings trading Cousins for less than a king's ransom until he's got just a year left on his deal.  A top 5 pick in one player draft, plus whatever bundle of lesser assets we throw in, is not a king's ransom.

[Monkhouse]

(a) Rondo coming back does not make sense, nor do I expect it to make sense while Rondo is still a quality player.  Let's all move on.

(b) I still don't buy the Kings trading Cousins for less than a king's ransom until he's got just a year left on his deal.  A top 5 pick in one player draft, plus whatever bundle of lesser assets we throw in, is not a king's ransom.

But I don't want to!

Just curious as to what everyone thinks generally.

I thought at the start of the season with tempers flaring, that might've been a possibility. But the Kings are actually really good with Cousins on the floor, so we'll see what happens. You never know, anything is possible.

Had a dream one day that we traded for DMC, and signed Rondo/Durant.

One man can dream right?

[PhoSita]

One man can dream right?

Absolutely.

For a little bit there I was dreaming about Ben Simmons as the second coming of Magic Johnson for the Boston Celtics, which would be really cool on a lot of levels.

I try my best not to spend too much time trying to think of what the Celts will look like in a year.  Ainge doesn't tend do things the way I expect or want him to.

[Monkhouse]

One man can dream right?

Absolutely.

For a little bit there I was dreaming about Ben Simmons as the second coming of Magic Johnson for the Boston Celtics, which would be really cool on a lot of levels.

I try my best not to spend too much time trying to think of what the Celts will look like in a year.  Ainge doesn't tend do things the way I expect or want him to.

Agreed.

Hypothetically, if this could happen, what do you think about this team?
Rondo
Smart
Gallinari
Sullinger/FA? (Not too sure about the 4)
Cousins

Who is your binkie in the draft Phosita?

[Donoghus]

No & No.

This team does not need Rondo as currently constituted and I'm not really that interested in emptying out the coffers for Cousins which I think would be high risk.

[Jvalin]

I like Rondo, and I think on a team where a big man that can score is vital for him. I also wouldn't mind putting Smart at the 2, and I actually think that's the best position for him.

Rondo needs to be surrounded by shooters and guys that like to play off the ball in order for him to become effective. Bradley is a perfect fit alongside Rondo because he excels in catch and shoot situations and he almost never dribbles too much when he has the ball in his hands. Ray Allen was a perfect fit as well. Smart on the other hand is a limited shooter (at least compared to Bradley) and a capable ball-handler. He is not a ball hog but he dribbles the ball a lot more than Bradley does. I don’t see how Rondo and Smart could coexist in our backcourt. After all, Smart was drafted with the view to replacing Rondo as our starting point guard. At least that was the plan based on his potential at the time of the draft.

By the way I am all for trading for DMC and Rondo. However, if we were to trade for both of them, I think Smart should be heading the other way to the Kings.

[Hemingway]

To the OP, I love the idea. The board in general does not, I've said it a bunch of times and every time it gets bashed like crazy.

Pho is right on point number 2, the kings probably just won't trade DMC till they have to. But if they ever did, we would be silly not to take Rondo too. He is a FA so we wouldn't lose any assets for him. He might even take a discount to stay with DMC/come home/be on a stacked team.

IF we could get DMC, I'd say we should also overpay and try to get Melo too. I'd trade all of our picks as well as Rozier, Hunter, Mickey and Young to get a roster like this next year:

DMC/Amir or Kelly or Zeller
Melo/some cheap ring chaser vet
Crowder/JJ
AB/Smart
Rondo/IT

I get the pessimism in that The Kings and Knicks probably just keep their stars, but what I don't get is if this board collectively was in charge of the team and the 2 deals needed to make this work were on the table it would be a resounding no.

[Quetzalcoatl]

This feels weird to type, but man, the West is so weak this year that if they keep playing like they're playing all season, they could absolutely make the playoffs.  They just stumbled out of the gate

[ssspence]

There's a thread about trading for Cousins pretty much every day... and yet their owner has less than ZERO interest in trading him. I just think folks are overlooking it. Just because their situation is a mess doesn't mean that Vivek R is trading Cousins.

To the contrary, he's absolutely the last player they'll trade -- at least until their fantasy of luring Calipari to SAC is somehow put to rest, and living in reality is not exactly Ranadive's strong suit.