If the Nets pick is top 3, would you trade it for DeMarcus Cousins?

[chambers]

We had this thread before drafting Smart.


Danny Ainge is potentially going to have some big decisions for the Celtics franchise in the next 9 months. These decisions could impact the Celtics for the next 10 years.

As we've seen, Cousins has gotten better but Simmons, Ingram and Jaylen Brown (and perhaps Labissiere) look like legit studs.

So let's say the Nets pick lands #1 and the Kings say they'll send you Cousins for the pick. ..
What's your move?

This is a tough one for me....
Do you take the top 10 player and gamble that he may leave in free agency?
Or do you keep the pick and go after him hard in free agency?
Or do you avoid Cousins and his 'drama' (if you see it that way) completely.

Example on keeping the #1 pick and signing free agents to lure Cousins. ..

PG Smart
SG Bradley
SF Harrison Barnes signed as free agent
PF Ben Simmons with #1 pick
C Cousins

Or do you just take Cousins and create the same line up above without Simmons (or something similar)?

It's decisions like this that I hope we have to worry about soon and Danny may have to make some big calls.
What do you do?

[Who]

Yes, absolutely.

[esel1000]

If you can get a Cousins level big for a top 3 pick you do it. I'd much rather have the established player

[chambers]

If you can get a Cousins level big for a top 3 pick you do it. I'd much rather have the established player

You'll get Cousins for 2 seasons before free agency.
Is that enough time to convince him to stay and is the gamble worth it?

What happens in 2 years if Cousins leaves at age 27 and you have no Simmons?

[KeepRondo]

It depends on the talent in the draft. If the draft is similar to this summer's draft, I would rather go with the draft.

[jambr380]

If you can get a Cousins level big for a top 3 pick you do it. I'd much rather have the established player

You'll get Cousins for 2 seasons before free agency.
Is that enough time to convince him to stay and is the gamble worth it?

What happens in 2 years if Cousins leaves at age 27 and you have no Simmons?

Money speaks and we would be able to pay him while also giving him the reins to a perennial upper-level playoff team (in the east). He would also enjoy by far the best coaching he has ever recieved on a team with players of a similar age.

Without a doubt, I would absolutely trade a high pick for one of the NBA's top players (issues and all).

[chambers]

If you can get a Cousins level big for a top 3 pick you do it. I'd much rather have the established player

You'll get Cousins for 2 seasons before free agency.
Is that enough time to convince him to stay and is the gamble worth it?

What happens in 2 years if Cousins leaves at age 27 and you have no Simmons?

Money speaks and we would be able to pay him while also giving him the reins to a perennial upper-level playoff team (in the east). He would also enjoy by far the best coaching he has ever recieved on a team with players of a similar age.

Without a doubt, I would absolutely trade a high pick for one of the NBA's top players (issues and all).

Good justification, makes sense. Would also make us more attractive to free agents.

[chambers]

I think this is fascinating because it makes you wonder if the Kings (after an unusually bad season) would regress back to the Cousins trade table rumors.

I wonder if they'd agree to trade Cousins for Ben Simmons if their season was a train wreck?
Unfortunately I think they're looking much better but you never know with the Kings.

[DarkAzcura]

This used to be an automatic yes for me, but lately I've been thinking a bit otherwise. I might just be falling in love with the draft, but logic says you take the established player.

I guess it also depends on if DMC is a FA draw or not. I don't really know his rep around the NBA, but he doesn't seem like the kind of dude who makes a ton of friends in NBA.

[timpiker]

I think Cousins is too unstable.

[dreamgreen]

I wonder if those in love with Cousins also watch Fox so called news?

I'll pass on Cousins.

[Rosco917]

I wonder if those in love with Cousins also watch Fox so called news?

I'll pass on Cousins.

We're doing "so called" news and political commentary now?

[jmen788]

We had this thread before drafting Smart.


Danny Ainge is potentially going to have some big decisions for the Celtics franchise in the next 9 months. These decisions could impact the Celtics for the next 10 years.

As we've seen, Cousins has gotten better but Simmons, Ingram and Jaylen Brown (and perhaps Labissiere) look like legit studs.

So let's say the Nets pick lands #1 and the Kings say they'll send you Cousins for the pick. ..
What's your move?

This is a tough one for me....
Do you take the top 10 player and gamble that he may leave in free agency?
Or do you keep the pick and go after him hard in free agency?
Or do you avoid Cousins and his 'drama' (if you see it that way) completely.

Example on keeping the #1 pick and signing free agents to lure Cousins. ..

PG Smart
SG Bradley
SF Harrison Barnes signed as free agent
PF Ben Simmons with #1 pick
C Cousins

Or do you just take Cousins and create the same line up above without Simmons (or something similar)?

It's decisions like this that I hope we have to worry about soon and Danny may have to make some big calls.
What do you do?

Cousins is a GREAT player.. but is he KG level? He isn't the piece that will put us over the top, and I think we need to be patient. I would prefer to keep Simmons or Ingram. But if it were pick 5 or 6 then I would absolutely trade it for Cousins.

I just don't think Cousins is the proper first domino to fall... I don't think he is gonna attract top flight FAs here because he wants all the points, and while he is a star, he isn't considered a star on a Lebron or Durant level.

[TA9]

YES, without a doubt in my mind!
We know what we will get in DeMarcus Cousins; a double-double machine, who we can build our team around, whereas the top 3 players available in the draft could potentiallly be busts or average players.

[saltlover]

I almost certainly would, unless this team underperforms expectations this season.  If we're reasonably healthy and miss the playoffs, I'd be a little concerned about acquiring DMC, given his occasional motivation issues.  If we're who we expect we are (a 45-50 win team who's weakness is in the paint), then yeah, absolutely, even if it's #1 overall.  Cousins has two years left on his contract after this one, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if a new CBA made contract extensions viable again, lessening the fear he would bolt in free agency.

Ideally we could trade for him at the deadline if the Nets look like a solid bottom 3 team, and the Kings do as well.