Team USA center DeMarcus Cousins dunks the ball against China. (Photo : Getty Images)
DeMarcus Cousins' ongoing Rio Summer Olympics performance had fueled trade speculations that a deal could happen soon between his mother club Sacramento Kings and the reigning NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers with All-Star power forward Kevin Love as a trade piece.
The 25-year-old former Kentucky Wildcats standout had been performing excellently as one of Team USA's centers in the current summer Games. In limited minutes, he had scored a total of 23 points, grabbed 10 boards, and dished out three assists, shooting 66.7 percent from the field in two games so far for the Americans.
Fansided indicated that Boogie's "Olympics performance has proven he fits with the Cleveland Cavaliers", saying that basketball analyst and former NBA head coach Doug Collins "was wanting Cousins to be traded to a contender".
The report noted that with Cousins showing that he can co-exist with fellow superstar players in one team and still be successful means that he can be effective playing alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the Cavs on their title defense next season.
The two-time NBA All-star is said to have "found himself in the perfect position to get offensive rebounds" in the first two matches in the Olympics and it would greatly benefit head coach Tyronn Lue's squad, whose current roster is lacking a true center.
At the moment, Cleveland only has undersized center and natural power forward Tristan Thompson and aging veteran Chris Andersen as their options in the middle. With a clear lack of alternatives at the position, the Cavs may still be looking to make one high-profile transaction before the new season begins in October.
With Cousins mobility and outside shooting, he is said to be the "perfect player to have alongside" James and Irving, "who thrive working off of the pick-and-roll", the report said.
Meanwhile, Inquisitr reported that the Cavs may have to part ways with one of their All-Stars, stretch four Kevin Love, if they want to snag Cousins from the Kings.
The 27-year-old, three-time All-Star Love may have to be included in a trade package to get Sacramento vice president and general manager Vlade Divac to approve any deal.
Both Cousins and Love had been the subject of trade rumors since last summer even when the latter had already won his first championship with Cleveland in June.
