Powell:Cousins is million-dollar talent with $10 maturity

[mgent]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Gilbert Arenas got kicked out the league for having a bad personality?

Not because he was a below average backup PG at that point in his career?

[Eja117]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Gilbert Arenas got kicked out the league for having a bad personality?

Not because he was a below average backup PG at that point in his career?

The gun thing didn't help

[knuckleballer]

Like many I'm becoming more gun shy about acquiring Cousins one because of his personality, and two his teams have never won at least 30 games. 

The good news is there could be other stars available on the market this offseason like Butler, Love, and Griffin while not as talented as Cousins probably less risk disrupting our team.

I'm actually becoming more excited about trading for him.  All these problems make him more available and drive down his price.  We could trade a guy like Amir along with Nets picks for him and sign a max free agent.  We could possibly get creative, trade for him, and even sign two max contracts setting us up as one of the top few teams for years to come. Sure, he's a head case, but he's always been on a dysfunctional losing team with all the pressure focused on him. Bring him to a winner with the the other max free agents. (Durant and Horford ) with hard working team players, a great coach, a great GM, and a smart ownership not afraid to spend, and ... yeah.

[guava_wrench]

Cousins' biggest problem is his inability to handle frustration. Put him on a better team, and hopefully there is less frustration. In particular, if he is in a situation that he likes, he might not be rebelling all the time.

He seems like a likable enough guy off the court.

I remember that one game where Cousins went on strike while on the court, just taking some plays off. That scares me. I would still take the risk at a good price, but the playoffs are full of frustration. I don't know how he would react to the tough losses that happen to even the best teams in the playoffs.

[Monkhouse]

Cousins' biggest problem is his inability to handle frustration. Put him on a better team, and hopefully there is less frustration. In particular, if he is in a situation that he likes, he might not be rebelling all the time.

He seems like a likable enough guy off the court.

I remember that one game where Cousins went on strike while on the court, just taking some plays off. That scares me. I would still take the risk at a good price, but the playoffs are full of frustration. I don't know how he would react to the tough losses that happen to even the best teams in the playoffs.

That's exactly how I feel. I'm worried Cousins will maybe at some point break down during a crucial moment, but that's why I hope the atmosphere and the chemistry can help rein him. I have such faith in him. He's an monster. His stats are video game like.

Cousins is a consummate teammate. I hope no one gets that wrong about him, he always protects his teammate, and ends up doing too much.

I'm confident Ainge and Stevens can get him to buy in, plus Smart and Crowder can just hustle on the team for us. 

[chambers]

Cousins' biggest problem is his inability to handle frustration. Put him on a better team, and hopefully there is less frustration. In particular, if he is in a situation that he likes, he might not be rebelling all the time.

He seems like a likable enough guy off the court.

I remember that one game where Cousins went on strike while on the court, just taking some plays off. That scares me. I would still take the risk at a good price, but the playoffs are full of frustration. I don't know how he would react to the tough losses that happen to even the best teams in the playoffs.

That's exactly how I feel. I'm worried Cousins will maybe at some point break down during a crucial moment, but that's why I hope the atmosphere and the chemistry can help rein him. I have such faith in him. He's an monster. His stats are video game like.

Cousins is a consummate teammate. I hope no one gets that wrong about him, he always protects his teammate, and ends up doing too much.

I'm confident Ainge and Stevens can get him to buy in, plus Smart and Crowder can just hustle on the team for us. 

That's only one aspect of being a team mate though. He consistently gives up on plays, scowls when his team mates screw up, shakes his head and lets other players and the refs get inside his head, causing him to go into 'baby brain' mode where nothing matters to him other than getting his point across for the um-teenth time that he's frustrated.

That's not a good team mate. That's a selfish guy that cares about his team but cares more about his self being/emotional fulfillment in the heat of the moment.

[Rosco917]

It's so tempting...I understand he's a great talent, but IMO he may have mental health issues. Once he blows up, he just can not get control of his anger, that's what bother me most. He doesn't mouth off, then get back to playing well. He looses it, to the point he has to leave the game and arena. Not a good sign.

[crimson_stallion]

Like many I'm becoming more gun shy about acquiring Cousins one because of his personality, and two his teams have never won at least 30 games. 

The good news is there could be other stars available on the market this offseason like Butler, Love, and Griffin while not as talented as Cousins probably less risk disrupting our team.

dont worry. Cousins will not be brought here

Last trouble guy CBS had to deal with was Rondo. And he is a model citizen compared to Cousins

Rondo is at least as problematic as Cousins is...

[crimson_stallion]

Cousins' biggest problem is his inability to handle frustration. Put him on a better team, and hopefully there is less frustration. In particular, if he is in a situation that he likes, he might not be rebelling all the time.

He seems like a likable enough guy off the court.

I remember that one game where Cousins went on strike while on the court, just taking some plays off. That scares me. I would still take the risk at a good price, but the playoffs are full of frustration. I don't know how he would react to the tough losses that happen to even the best teams in the playoffs.

That's exactly how I feel. I'm worried Cousins will maybe at some point break down during a crucial moment, but that's why I hope the atmosphere and the chemistry can help rein him. I have such faith in him. He's an monster. His stats are video game like.

Cousins is a consummate teammate. I hope no one gets that wrong about him, he always protects his teammate, and ends up doing too much.

I'm confident Ainge and Stevens can get him to buy in, plus Smart and Crowder can just hustle on the team for us. 

That's only one aspect of being a team mate though. He consistently gives up on plays, scowls when his team mates screw up, shakes his head and lets other players and the refs get inside his head, causing him to go into 'baby brain' mode where nothing matters to him other than getting his point across for the um-teenth time that he's frustrated.

That's not a good team mate. That's a selfish guy that cares about his team but cares more about his self being/emotional fulfillment in the heat of the moment.

How is that any different to a lot of other great players like, I don't know, Lebron James?

Given how utterly lazy and how much of a drama queen he already is, I would hate to see how much of a head case Lebron would be if he had to play for the Kings.  He'd make Cousins look like Tim Duncan.

Also why do you call it selfish?  What is it that makes you think Cousins CHOOSES to be how he is?  He's an emotional guy in a frustrating situations, not everybody is always able to control their emotions.

[Fred Roberts]

Uneducated guess here, but I think you'd have to largely gut this team to trade for Cousins.

Are you willing to add Cousins if it costs you Smart, Bradley, Crowder, BK #1, Dallas #1, 2 2nds and a Young/Mickey type?

I think the asking price would be in that range. 

Stevens would be great for Cousins, but so would Crowder and the other good glue guys we wouldn't want to give up.

If we strike it big on one or two picks this year,  sign a quality FA and package lower picks and lesser players to adjust the rest of the roster,  we will retain the tremendous depth and have loads of upside and continued flexibility.

[Bucketgetter]

Uneducated guess here, but I think you'd have to largely gut this team to trade for Cousins.

Are you willing to add Cousins if it costs you Smart, Bradley, Crowder, BK #1, Dallas #1, 2 2nds and a Young/Mickey type?

I think the asking price would be in that range. 

Stevens would be great for Cousins, but so would Crowder and the other good glue guys we wouldn't want to give up.

If we strike it big on one or two picks this year,  sign a quality FA and package lower picks and lesser players to adjust the rest of the roster,  we will retain the tremendous depth and have loads of upside and continued flexibility.

No one would ever give up that amount of value for one player. We would turn into the 2012 kings team. If we were going to get Cousins, we would get him to pair him with IT, Smart, AB and Crowder, not to trade 3 of those 4 guys away. Besides, if the kings traded Cousins, they would probably go into a full rebuild which means a ton of picks and young players would be enticing to them. We would be able to keep our core if we offered Rozier, Young, Mickey, Amir (salary filler), 2016 BKN 1st, DAL 1st, BOS 1st, 2018 BKN 1st, and however many 2nds they wanted. All of this hinges on Cousins being available, but if he is, that package looks pretty nice.

[Roy H.]

Uneducated guess here, but I think you'd have to largely gut this team to trade for Cousins.

Are you willing to add Cousins if it costs you Smart, Bradley, Crowder, BK #1, Dallas #1, 2 2nds and a Young/Mickey type?

I think the asking price would be in that range. 

I think you're overestimating.  Teams just don't pay through the nose for disgruntled superstars.  Smart + Amir + BK #1 + future #1 probably gets us into the conversation.

[Fred Roberts]

I'll be interested to see what pans out. If we can keep Crowder and enough other pieces it would clearly be worth it.

Maybe Sacramento gets desperate. Right now, I think they're holding out for much more than Danny would want to pay.

[FreddieJ]

Uneducated guess here, but I think you'd have to largely gut this team to trade for Cousins.

Are you willing to add Cousins if it costs you Smart, Bradley, Crowder, BK #1, Dallas #1, 2 2nds and a Young/Mickey type?

I think the asking price would be in that range. 

I think you're overestimating.  Teams just don't pay through the nose for disgruntled superstars.  Smart + Amir + BK #1 + future #1 probably gets us into the conversation.

Big variability with that Brooklyn pick, if it gets top two or stays at like 4. It's pretty much a top 2 draft