Our 60-80% of our starting lineup,
This is a starting lineup that needs to improve anyway:
Bradley is poised to be replaced by Smart in the near-future and Bradley's value is at an all-time high right now, so now is the time to cash in. McLemore is a young guy who could blossom into sixth man of the year, so it makes more sense having him come off the bench rather than Smart. Our back-court would be worse this year than last, but come 2017-2018 it could be nearly as good. By 2018-2019, particularly if Hunter or Rozier develops, maybe even better.
Olynyk should NOT be our starter and will never be more than a role-player in this league. Obviously going from Olynyk to Cousins is a dramatic improvement of astronomical proportions.
Johnson was not even a starter in 2014-2015. Yeah, he helped us move from 8th to 5th, but the end result was basically the same. He is easily replaceable in free agency (for example, Jordan Hill).
As much as we love Crowder, he can be replaced in free agency. Would anybody care if we traded Crowder if we ended up with Durant this offseason? I think giving up Crowder and bringing back Turner would not be as much of a drop as some people perceive.
our entire 2016 draft stock, and every possible piece we would need to draft guys good enough to make this team a true contender.
There is no guarantee we will be able to draft guys good enough to make this team a contender in the future. Dating back to the formation of the Big Three, here is our drafting record:
Good Picks: Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart
Meh Picks: Sully and Olynyk
Garbage Picks: Everyone else (excluding 2015, which is too early to call)
As much as I love thinking about all of the great players we could potentially draft, our draft record scares me and I would give up all of draft picks this year, along with our top pick in each of the next three years, if it guaranteed securing the best center in the league, who is poised to be absolutely dominant the next 5-8 years on a team with a good coach.
The most I would offer for Cousins would be #3, #16, #23, Bradley, KO.
Go propose that trade on a Kings' forum and see their reaction. What would we have done if instead of trading for Garnett and Allen, Danny had traded Paul Pierce for #3, #16, #23, a good defensive guard and a roleplayer center? Kings' fans would have Vlade's head if he accepted the above trade.
For this trade to occur, both sides have to find it mutually beneficial. If we want a top ten NBA player, it's going to cost.