We end up with the 1st pick, +fillers, would you still trade for DMC?

[Monkhouse]

Let's say....

We dangle a few picks to bring in a solid/fringe Allstar player to the Kings, along with our 1st pick. Lets say the Kings are looking for as a replacement, plus to usher in a new rebuild, so most likely a fringe Allstar is a young player with potential, but is probably not a good fit for their team, ends up costing like 2 first round picks, maybe a few second rounders, and cap filler, would you do it?

I've been watching college basketball recently... Ball, Jackson, Tatum, and while Giles hasn't played, I've heard nothing but good things from scouts, and a few friends of mine who have followed Gile's high school career boast his supremacy as a potential two way player.

So I'm a little wary, but I think I would do it.

Cousins is a top 5-10 player when locked in... We're so convinced Cousins is a headcase, but we can't say that until he gets a new foundation to work himself in...

[jpotter33]

If it's already known that it's the number one pick, then the season is over and Cousins only has one year left on his contract.

At that point, that's pretty much all he'll be able to bring back in a trade, especially with the "allure" that the number one pick brings with it. The number one pick and salary filler and perhaps some smaller assets, such as Rozier and Young would probably get him at that point.

The Love trade would be good precedent for that.

[GRADYCOLNON]

no not for Cousins.  It just became too valuable.  I'd rather see us snag a more difficult player to grab with a rising star similar to a Parish and McHale trade in 1980.  We'd still be able to get Cousins in a trade with other assets, considering we'd need to make room for new players drafted. 

[Moranis]

I'm a bit torn on that trade, but Ainge would and that is all that matters.  Ainge didn't sign Horford to build around the Brooklyn picks, he signed Horford to go into a win now mode and trading the 1st pick for Cousins is the quintessential win now trade. 

[indeedproceed]

I'd rather Ainge tried to just whoever he thought could/would be the best player.

Cousins would probably be that guy.

[green_bballers13]

I would. If Fultz has an amazing year and is the next Lillard, it becomes a tougher decision. Same for some of the other projected top picks. If a star is born in front of our eyes, Danny would have to think long and hard.

If things stay like they are now (no consensus #1 pick), I would trade the pick plus our baggage contracts for DMC in a second.

He might be the best center in the NBA. He and Horford would be special together. Demarcus is the perfect age for a "compete now" squad.

I'm not psyched about drafting another 19 year old and watching him play 10-15 min while Horford gets older.

[LilRip]

I would do it. Cousins is an amazing player and his skill set fits with Horford. I don't know what DMC's relationship is with IT but I believe the C's culture would fit a guy as volatile as DMC. This team wants to contend and is one huge piece away. I think IT-Cousins-Horford with a supporting cast of Bradley-Crowder-Smart-KO could contend.

[slamtheking]

As mentioned above, if we have the top pick, season is over and Cousins only has a year left on his deal

depends on who the top pick would look like and what else would need to be traded besides salary filler.  would also have to consider who else is available to fill in the roster behind Cousins and Horford as well as the odds of resigning Cousins to an extension before his last year is up.

If the top player is a big man with a record of good health, I'd consider keeping that pick instead of trading it for these reasons:
- player is on a time line compatible with the other building blocks we have - Smart, Brown, 2017 #1, Rozier.  IT/AB/Crowder are all still young.  Horford does get a year older but he should be a really good player for a few more years. 
- Cousins is known to require pampering to keep him happy/motivated.  does a change of scenery necessarily change that?
- Cousins has one year left on his deal.  Can we get him to resign with us as part of a condition of a trade?
- What else has to go out the door besides that pick?  A one year rental of Cousins isn't worth a #1 pick in a loaded draft.  He won't be cheap but giving up a major building block for 1 year of a top player would likely come back to bite us in the butt.

[Phantom255x]

No, Cousins becomes a rental this offseason. Only 1 year left on his contract after this season.

If he agreed to some sort of extension here beforehand, sure.

But I would think if the Kings don't trade Cousins by the trade deadline, they won't trade him at all because they know they won't get back much value for dealing him as a rental.

[Roy H.]

If his agent promised that he'd resign, then yes.

[Phantom255x]

If his agent promised that he'd resign, then yes.

Exactly my thoughts as I posted above.

If not, then NO. Love DMC, but then he becomes a rental.

Lot of us didn't want to break the bank on Westbrook when he was being shopped last summer (before he signed an extension) for the same reasons.

[bdm860]

We dangle a few picks to bring in a solid/fringe Allstar player to the Kings, along with our 1st pick. Lets say the Kings are looking for as a replacement, plus to usher in a new rebuild, so most likely a fringe Allstar is a young player with potential, but is probably not a good fit for their team, ends up costing like 2 first round picks, maybe a few second rounders, and cap filler, would you do it?

I'm having trouble understanding what you're offering here.

Are the C's giving the #1 pick + another first + a fringe All Star young player (so that's Crowder or Bradley?) + a few 2nds + salary filler?

Or is it a 3 way where the C's offer "a few picks to bring in a solid/fringe Allstar player to the Kings" so the C's send those to a third team while sending the #1 pick to the Kings for Cousins?

Based on the title I thought it was just #1 (+salary filler) for Cousins, and if that's the case I'd be very open to doing it, but would shop around a little more.  If just #1 gets Cousins, does #1 + other assets (Brooklyn '18, Memphis '19, Brown, etc.) get Anthony Davis? 

If there's 2 young All-NBA bigs on terrible teams looking to rebuild and the C's have the #1 pick, that theoretically puts the C's in a good negotiating position.  The Kings want X and Y, the Pelicans want X, Y, and Z.  Would the Kings be willing to come down to only X so you trade with them instead of the Pelicans, would the Pelicans come down to only X and Y so you'll trade with them over the Kings?  Gets especially interesting if Davis asks for a trade after the year is over.

With the #1 pick, I'd want to push for Anthony Davis first, even if it means giving up more assets. (Though they are 4-2 since Holiday came back, so maybe New Orleans turns it around this year).

[Bobshot]

What troubles me is Stevens is stuck on perimeter pick 'n roll bigs who can shoot the 3. Now Cousins can shoot the 3--sort of-- but his forte is dominating the middle. Rick Pitino was all hot about perimeter bigs when he was coaching the Celtics, and you know what happened there.

Stevens gets the most out of the team with his rotations and x's and o's. But I doubt his GM ability. Ainge should stick with what has always won with the Celtics. He needs another KG.

[tankcity!]

I'm a bit torn on that trade, but Ainge would and that is all that matters.  Ainge didn't sign Horford to build around the Brooklyn picks, he signed Horford to go into a win now mode and trading the 1st pick for Cousins is the quintessential win now trade.

You don't know if Ainge would actually. He hasn't traded anything of value since we started rebuilding.

[tazzmaniac]

I'd give up the Nets pick and more if we could get Cousins now without losing any of our core pieces.  That would give us two legit shots at the Championship even if Cousins left at the end of his contract.  As a 1 year rental, I wouldn't give up the actual #1 pick for Cousins and I would not trust his agent's word on re-signing here. 

I could see the Sixers having a strong preference for who would work best with Simmons and Embiid.  If there is no consensus #1 pick but a few good options, we might trade down a couple spots with the Sixers and pickup the Lakers pick or that unprotected Kings 2019 1st.