Guys, At This Point I think Cousins Is 100% Untouchable To The Kings...

[Phantom255x]

I've always been on the "Boogie-To-Boston" train and would LOVE to have him here. I've also been on numerous Cousins threads like "The Boogie Watch" for example voicing my interest in having him here.

I'm afraid Cousins is likely untouchable though for the following reasons.

1. Kings are currently the 8th seed in the West. The Blazers have shocked everybody by being really bad lately.. and as a result the 8th seed in the West is WIDE OPEN. Even the Mavericks have a shot at getting it if they go on a bit of a run sometime soon. The Kings have the new arena and Cousins is their only bright spot right now. Add in the possibility of making the playoffs, even as an 8 seed, and I fail to see why the Kings FO would deal him at the deadline. They've already held on to him this long..

2. Carmichael Dave, a Kings reporter, believes there's a GREAT likelihood that the Kings would offer Cousins the "super-max" contract (thanks to the new CBA) before even thinking about trading him. I also think the Kings would offer Cousins the extension, and I think he accepts, because...

3. Cousins also hasn't voiced his displeasure about being with Sacramento explicitly yet. Yes, he's been in some scandals and looked frustrated, but he seems loyal to the city and loves Sacramento as well. Plus, his new contract would have a ton of $$ (hard to turn down - just ask Carmelo Anthony).

So while I would love Cousins, I think it's a waste of time now imagining him being here. I don't think Ainge and Stevens want him here either for other reasons, and especially at the likely price to acquire him (very risky). There will be a ton of rumors in the coming months, but I would take them with a grain of salt.

[rondohondo]

They are making a huge mistake if they don't trade him by the draft.

He will be in the final year of his deal next year, and the package they could get from teams now will just get weaker. Plus less teams would be willing to trade for him of they know they won't be a contender and he could leave after next season.

Like another poster mentioned , the core of that Sacramento team are all mediocre players around 30 years old.

There is no future for Cousins in Sacramento if he wants to contend.

Not looking at this through green goggles either, its just the reality of the situation that organization is in.

[Phantom255x]

They are making a huge mistake if they don't trade him by the draft.

He will be in the final year of his deal next year, and the package they could get from teams now will just get weaker. Plus less teams would be willing to trade for him of they know they won't be a contender and he could leave after next season.

Like another poster mentioned , the core of that Sacramento team are all mediocre players around 30 years old.

There is no future for Cousins in Sacramento if he wants to contend.

Not looking at this through green goggles either, its just the reality of the situation that organization is in.

That's what I've been saying, and I'm sure every expert has echoed the same sentiment.

The Kings FO though, in kind words, are just not good. They could have dealt Cousins for great value in the past but didn't, and haven't helped him out by putting a great team beside him.

Knowing the Kings FO though, they would be happy to give the new arena some playoff games as an 8 seed, and offer Cousins a max-extension contract after this season.

It could ultimately be up to Cousins. If he says nothing, he's likely staying. Otherwise, he could be moved.

I agree that if they don't deal him at the deadline, he is not getting traded until he hits FA.. his value as a rental would be extremely low.

[bopna]

They are making a huge mistake if they don't trade him by the draft.

He will be in the final year of his deal next year, and the package they could get from teams now will just get weaker. Plus less teams would be willing to trade for him of they know they won't be a contender and he could leave after next season.

Like another poster mentioned , the core of that Sacramento team are all mediocre players around 30 years old.

There is no future for Cousins in Sacramento if he wants to contend.

Not looking at this through green goggles either, its just the reality of the situation that organization is in.

I agree.
The longer they wait..the price steeply goes down.
Its really a question of is making the playoffs and get swept really worth it down the line and lose DMC in a yr or get tons of asset now...rebuild from the bottom up...problem is though the King are historically a bad drafting team..save for Cousins they have wasted away those yrs of being in the lottery...do If they dont want the lottery way..I can understand where theyre coming from because frankly they have missed a lot of opportunity to surround Cousins with talent.

[vgulab]

I'm afraid Cousins is likely untouchable though for the following reasons.

1. Kings are currently the 8th seed in the West. The Blazers have shocked everybody by being really bad lately.. and as a result the 8th seed in the West is WIDE OPEN. Even the Mavericks have a shot at getting it if they go on a bit of a run sometime soon. The Kings have the new arena and Cousins is their only bright spot right now. Add in the possibility of making the playoffs, even as an 8 seed, and I fail to see why the Kings FO would deal him at the deadline. They've already held on to him this long..

Kings being 8th seed means only that they won't trade him in february nothing else.

I don't see him staying in Sac after july. It doens't make sense for him or for the Kings.

[Ilikesports17]

I've always been on the "Boogie-To-Boston" train and would LOVE to have him here. I've also been on numerous Cousins threads like "The Boogie Watch" for example voicing my interest in having him here.

I'm afraid Cousins is likely untouchable though for the following reasons.

1. Kings are currently the 8th seed in the West. The Blazers have shocked everybody by being really bad lately.. and as a result the 8th seed in the West is WIDE OPEN. Even the Mavericks have a shot at getting it if they go on a bit of a run sometime soon. The Kings have the new arena and Cousins is their only bright spot right now. Add in the possibility of making the playoffs, even as an 8 seed, and I fail to see why the Kings FO would deal him at the deadline. They've already held on to him this long..

2. Carmichael Dave, a Kings reporter, believes there's a GREAT likelihood that the Kings would offer Cousins the "super-max" contract (thanks to the new CBA) before even thinking about trading him. I also think the Kings would offer Cousins the extension, and I think he accepts, because...

3. Cousins also hasn't voiced his displeasure about being with Sacramento explicitly yet. Yes, he's been in some scandals and looked frustrated, but he seems loyal to the city and loves Sacramento as well. Plus, his new contract would have a ton of $$ (hard to turn down - just ask Carmelo Anthony).

So while I would love Cousins, I think it's a waste of time now imagining him being here. I don't think Ainge and Stevens want him here either for other reasons, and especially at the likely price to acquire him (very risky). There will be a ton of rumors in the coming months, but I would take them with a grain of salt.

I agree with the Cousins analysis. He is likely to remain a King for a long time. However, I disagree that it is a wast of time to pursue it.

In order to become contenders we need a top 5 or 10 NBA talent. These guys do not come around very often. With the new supermax rules, they will come around even less. Cousins is such a talent. The type of talent who could immediately vault us to contention. Thus even if there is only a 10 or 15% change he is available you still make that a priority.

[hpantazo]

I'm afraid Cousins is likely untouchable though for the following reasons.

1. Kings are currently the 8th seed in the West. The Blazers have shocked everybody by being really bad lately.. and as a result the 8th seed in the West is WIDE OPEN. Even the Mavericks have a shot at getting it if they go on a bit of a run sometime soon. The Kings have the new arena and Cousins is their only bright spot right now. Add in the possibility of making the playoffs, even as an 8 seed, and I fail to see why the Kings FO would deal him at the deadline. They've already held on to him this long..

Kings being 8th seed means only that they won't trade him in february nothing else.

I don't see him staying in Sac after july. It doens't make sense for him or for the Kings.

I agree. It also means our Brooklyn pick is more likely to end up top 3 if the Kings and Mavs and other teams are going to try for that #8 spot in the west.

[MBunge]

I think the new CBA is only cementing the reality that young franchise players are now ungettable by trade in the NBA.  The teams that draft them can simply offer so much more money than anyone else.

However, there is still a salary cap and that should open the door for some A-/B+ players who are looking for more than they can get from teams that already have one and maybe two franchise players onboard.  For example, Golden State has got to resign Durant and Curry this coming offseason.  That's going to make trading Klay Thompson or Draymond Green almost inevitable or else GSW will wind up with four guys eating up all their cap space.  They're inevitably going to lose Iguodala and Livingston, but they won't be able to offer anyone more than the vet minimum.

I suppose there's also a chance that teams that are terrible for several years in a row, like the Lakers and Sixers, and wind up with multiple high lottery picks might wind up needing to preemptively trade somebody to avoid giving out multiple max or near-max deals two or three years in a row.

But the reality is that the trade market will now more than ever be made up of stars in the back half of their prime on teams looking to rebuild.  For example, Memphis is currently committed to paying Conley, Chandler and Gasol $74 mil next season, $78 mil the season after that and $83 mil three years from now.  That's 70 to 80% of their cap and Gasol is going to be 32 in January.

Mike

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

The biggest dependent for me is ... What happens to the team once they trade Gay?? I dunno advance stats but im sure he has a decent win share count. At least while playing on the kings. What if they become the new Nets lol.. 

[hpantazo]

The Kings front office being so badly run, together with Ty Lawson regaining some of his past abilities, helping the Kings to a legit chance at the 8 seed, may indeed cause them to think they should keep Cousins. It is Cousins who should look at the roster, the front office, and his future and decide to ask to move on.

If they do decide to move Cousins, I imagine they would want Jaylen and at least one of our young guards in return along with Nets picks. They already have Skal Lab and Papagiannis as front court prospects, they need some good young wings and guards.

[CelticGuardian]

Cousins IS LIE. VERY SOFT PLAYER. - Georgio's Papabeinghonest

[kozlodoev]

The biggest dependent for me is ... What happens to the team once they trade Gay?? I dunno advance stats but im sure he has a decent win share count. At least while playing on the kings. What if they become the new Nets lol..

Gay has been on the shelf for 8 of the last 9 games and the Kings still went 5-3.

[bdm860]

Sacramento in the playoff hunt is definitely the worst thing for those hoping for a Cousins trade, no doubt.  Many teams aren't happy to make the playoffs with 35 wins, Sacramento is not one of those teams.

Plus we've seen how it gets around here.  When your team makes the playoffs, most people become optimistic that you can build on that next season and improve.  An 8 seed and being swept in 4 games in the playoffs will have fans and management thinking about home court advantage and the 2nd round next year.  Heaven forbid they actually steal a game or have one or two close losses, that's when people get really optimistic about the future.

There's still about 25 games between now and the trade deadline, so still a lot of time for Kings to fall several games back of #8 with 3-4 teams ahead of them. 

[Irish Stew]

Agree entirely and I have moved on from thinking about Cousins unless he forces his way out of town. I'm kind of focusing on maybe bringing in both Noel now and Hayward in the offseason. At least they're reasonably realistic in terms of availability and would still leave us with both Brooklyn picks as assets. Of course, the problem is that, because of cap space and total payroll issues, much of the roster might have to be turned over including one of Thomas or Bradley. 

[KGs Knee]

I think the new CBA is only cementing the reality that young franchise players are now ungettable by trade in the NBA.  The teams that draft them can simply offer so much more money than anyone else.

However, there is still a salary cap and that should open the door for some A-/B+ players who are looking for more than they can get from teams that already have one and maybe two franchise players onboard.  For example, Golden State has got to resign Durant and Curry this coming offseason.  That's going to make trading Klay Thompson or Draymond Green almost inevitable or else GSW will wind up with four guys eating up all their cap space.  They're inevitably going to lose Iguodala and Livingston, but they won't be able to offer anyone more than the vet minimum.

I suppose there's also a chance that teams that are terrible for several years in a row, like the Lakers and Sixers, and wind up with multiple high lottery picks might wind up needing to preemptively trade somebody to avoid giving out multiple max or near-max deals two or three years in a row.

But the reality is that the trade market will now more than ever be made up of stars in the back half of their prime on teams looking to rebuild.  For example, Memphis is currently committed to paying Conley, Chandler and Gasol $74 mil next season, $78 mil the season after that and $83 mil three years from now.  That's 70 to 80% of their cap and Gasol is going to be 32 in January.

Mike

I bet most good GM's are not thrilled by this.  I'm not thrilled by this.  It's probably pretty accurate, though.  It limits an avenue to improve that shrewd GM's can take advantage of, although possibly creating a new one, just from a lesser talented pool.