All things DeMarcus Cousins (merged thread)

[Celtics18]

George Karl's shining moment as an NBA coach was in the mid-nineties when he coached a couple of guys in Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp who were considered selfish, arrogant trouble makers by many.  He had a lot of success with those guys.  They managed to successfully develop an "us against the world" attitude as a team.

It remains to be seen what he can accomplish (if he's given the chance) with the dysfunctional "family" of Boogie, Rondo, and Rudy Gay. 

I'm kinda rooting for that Kings team to work it out. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Didn't the Lakers can Karl way back really fast , and then bring back Jackson .

[moiso]

All the George Karl bashing is irrelevant.  Cousins has problems with all of his coaches, and they all aren't named George Karl.

Edit: most of his coaches.  Or all except one.

[chambers]

I just cant believe a player would do this after 8 games...
**** is he thinking?
Surely there's some kind of back story here and he thinks Karl has a vendetta or something.

If he was just angry that they lost, then acquiring this guy becomes genuinely questionable.

We are 8 games into the season for God's sake.
Do we want a player like this around our young core, making it all about him and his anger issues?

I mean, Karl made multiple attempts last spring to convince the Kings to trade Cousins, merely weeks after he took the job.  I think the backstory is pretty clear here.

Yeah but since then both Cousins and Karl appeared to have genuinely patched things up. Obviously wounds only heal with time, but regardless of what's going on- it would have to be of the lowest denomination to make this behavior excusable.
They are in the first 8 games of the season and have specifically built a team of serious players around him for the first time in his career. Surely he has the wherewithal to look at the bigger picture here?
I mean what exactly could have Karl done to incite a reaction like that?

In these situations I like to ask what is the more likely 'backstory'....
*that Karl did something so low down dirty, scum, sneaky dirtball thing to incite this reaction
or
*that DeMarcus Cousins is fulfilling the stereotypes and countless reports that paint him as an NBA Diva, an egomaniac and a mentally weak individual.

Guys like Larry Bird, Jordan, Hakeem, Lebron, Durant etc must see this behavior and shake their heads.

I don't know the full story, and hopefully it comes out. But Cousins is going to need a really good excuse for this one.

What gets me is that the organization is always at fault when people want it to be.
They've gone after some great players to make his life better on the court and done so much to appease him.
If his fellow players are saying ;you can't yell at the coach like that', and the reports say he 'regretted his actions' etc like in this one, surely there's concern that this guy is a complete sociopath?

The biggest warning sign here is that Karl isn't the first coach he's done this to right?

[gift]

I just cant believe a player would do this after 8 games...
**** is he thinking?
Surely there's some kind of back story here and he thinks Karl has a vendetta or something.

If he was just angry that they lost, then acquiring this guy becomes genuinely questionable.

We are 8 games into the season for God's sake.
Do we want a player like this around our young core, making it all about him and his anger issues?

I mean, Karl made multiple attempts last spring to convince the Kings to trade Cousins, merely weeks after he took the job.  I think the backstory is pretty clear here.

Yeah but since then both Cousins and Karl appeared to have genuinely patched things up. Obviously wounds only heal with time, but regardless of what's going on- it would have to be of the lowest denomination to make this behavior excusable.
They are in the first 8 games of the season and have specifically built a team of serious players around him for the first time in his career. Surely he has the wherewithal to look at the bigger picture here?
I mean what exactly could have Karl done to incite a reaction like that?

In these situations I like to ask what is the more likely 'backstory'....
*that Karl did something so low down dirty, scum, sneaky dirtball thing to incite this reaction
or
*that DeMarcus Cousins is fulfilling the stereotypes and countless reports that paint him as an NBA Diva, an egomaniac and a mentally weak individual.

Guys like Larry Bird, Jordan, Hakeem, Lebron, Durant etc must see this behavior and shake their heads.

I don't know the full story, and hopefully it comes out. But Cousins is going to need a really good excuse for this one.

What gets me is that the organization is always at fault when people want it to be.
They've gone after some great players to make his life better on the court and done so much to appease him.
If his fellow players are saying ;you can't yell at the coach like that', and the reports say he 'regretted his actions' etc like in this one, surely there's concern that this guy is a complete sociopath?

The biggest warning sign here is that Karl isn't the first coach he's done this to right?

I don't think a sociopath would seek advice from teammates and worry about if they were in the wrong. But, yes, there are tons of warning signs with Cousins. I still think he's worth it. And I do think environment is one of the factors at play here. Improve the environment, let him mature some more and you will see a difference. He seems willing to learn from mistakes, which you don't hear a lot. And in interviews he is very self-reflective which is a good sign and necessary ingredient to self-improvement. I don't see the Sacramento environment improving in the next year or so at least. Not sure what the future holds for Cousins and his reputation, but it would be a shame to see a bulk of his prime be wasted.

[Tr1boy]

Cousins is impossible. Never seen a player with a worse attitude

Kings will be in hell , depending on this guy to lead the team.

Kings ownership is a joke

[BDeCosta26]

The Kings should just trade Cousins & Rondo to the Lakers for Hibbert, Randle, & Russell.  Maybe some other young pieces or 1st's involved (Rondo can't be traded until Dec.).  I think that would get the Lakers a real shot in Kobe's last year plus a centerpiece to build around.  The Kings get 2 young prospects and a respectable center on an expiring contract.

If the nets pick continues to look like a top 5 pick, Boston can beat that pretty easily. IF the nets are really that bad, and they sure look it, not only is that pick a major asset (with a legit shot at #1 overall) but the other Nets picks look like gold right now. Almost guaranteed to be somewhere in the lottery, and Sacto is missing some 1sts going forward. The Dallas pick looks like it's gonna be in the mid-late lottery too, so might our own pick. Nevermind Smart, Rozier, Hunter, Olynyk or anyone else.

Hibbert isn't worth much to a team that already Koufos and WCS. Randle would struggle for spacing with those guys too. Russell is last years #2 pick, but he hasn't looked all that good so far, and Randle has looked pretty good, but he's a flawed player. If that was gonna happen it was last draft night before the Lakers took Russell. Now that package isn't worth what it was when it was #2 and a basic rookie in Randle. If your Sacto, you want to expedite your rebuild post-cousins. Getting a couple guys like Olynyk and Rozier, a top-3 to 5 pick, a late lottery pick, and a pick or two for the next couple years they could lose theirs would be huge for them, and maybe Divac could dig outta this hole he put himself in.

[hpantazo]

I'd be interested to hear Rondos honest take on the Cousins-Karl conflict. Considering they are both stubborn, difficult players to coach, it is interesting that there have been reports of both of them clashing with Karl, although Cousins much more obviously, but no reported issues between each other. They have their difficulties for sure, but both players love to win. It is much more likely imo that Karl is the problem here.

[Roy H.]

Cousins is impossible. Never seen a player with a worse attitude

Really?

* Cousins is considered to be a leader by his teammates.  He showed up at Summer League to lead his young teammates in voluntary workouts and he was a model citizen for Team USA, coming off the bench;

* He's developed his game tremendously.  He's become a very good defender and has added a three point shot;

* He's passionate about winning;

* He plays through pain, and came back early last season from a potentially life-threatening injury;

* John Calipari and Mike Malone love him.

This is the guy with the worst attitude in the history of all NBA players you've seen?

[walker834]

If we can get Boogie we have to do it. I would part with a collection of picks including new jerseys and players for Cousins.  Ben Simmons is really good but what I think this team needs is a dominant center.  Cousins and Sully with Crowder and our backcourt would win and I don't know how ainge is going to use all these picks anyways with the amount of players and youth we already have.

[chambers]

It's amazing to think that he's done this to multiple coaches. It really worries me to be honest.

I'd love to get him without giving up this years Brooklyn pick or Smart (keep dreaming, I know  ).

eg Dallas pick, 2018 Nets pick, 2016 C's pick, 2018 C's pick, RJ Hunter, Terry Rozier
for
DeMarcus Cousins.

Smart
Bradley
Simmons
Sullinger
Cousins

hmmmm

[walker834]

Picking between Simmons and Cousins is really tough.  We could use both guys.  i really like cousins though.  I like his fire.  Ainge might not.  He was not big on antoine. Simmons for some reason seems right up ainge's alley as far as a new larry bird.

[walker834]

I actually think Stevens would be fine coaching Cousins.  I think their personalities would mesh for whatever reason.  I more think Ainge might have issues with him.

Ainge drafts a lot of players in his mold.  I also think he would have traded Pierce if Wyc didnt step in.  Stevens is different than Ainge though.  I actually think Avery Bradley is a stevens guy and boogie would be too.  Don't ask why I think that but i have my reasons.

[chambers]

Cousins is impossible. Never seen a player with a worse attitude

Really?

* Cousins is considered to be a leader by his teammates.  He showed up at Summer League to lead his young teammates in voluntary workouts and he was a model citizen for Team USA, coming off the bench;

* He's developed his game tremendously.  He's become a very good defender and has added a three point shot;

* He's passionate about winning;

* He plays through pain, and came back early last season from a potentially life-threatening injury;

* John Calipari and Mike Malone love him.

This is the guy with the worst attitude in the history of all NBA players you've seen?

He's done this to multiple coaches though. The organization is a shiz show but what gives this guy the right to behave this way whenever he wants with no consequences?
The guy has mental stability issues and always has. You cannot believe that this kind of behavior/attitude is acceptable for any reason.
Guy gets paid millions to play the game he loves and they try and put a cast of very good players around him.
8 games in and he's blowing up already.

When do the excuses for this guy stop?

[chambers]

Picking between Simmons and Cousins is really tough.  We could use both guys.  i really like cousins though.  I like his fire.  Ainge might not.  He was not big on antoine. Simmons for some reason seems right up ainge's alley as far as a new larry bird.

It's a well known fact that Danny Ainge would trade his mother for DeMarcus Cousins. Been after him for years. He'd do anything to get him here under Stevens.

The guy is a jerk but with the right influences around him he might grow up.
Sacramento are like the parents that never disciplined their children and their 16 year old is doing whatever she wants- on her terms.

Time for him to be taken in off the streets by Boston, and learn about life the correct way.