Jimmy Butler and DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : Getty Images)
DeMarcus Cousins is probably the biggest prize (literally) in the NBA trade rumor mill but are teams ready to stake their futures on him?
There are numerous rumors swirling about teams interested in trading for the talented slotman from Sacramento. Considering that he is, by far, the only trade asset that the Kings have, they want to cash in big for him.
The Kings' front office is playing the media game right by continuing to brush off trade rumors and declare that they're not interested, as in this statement from Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
"The Kings believe Cousins is the cornerstone of the franchise and that any success this season starts and stops with him. Incoming calls from other teams have been dismissed. There seems to be zero desire to even talk about a Cousins trade from the Kings' side."
With that hardline stance, what would the Kings ask from their rumored suitors if they want Cousins?
The Cleveland Cavaliers were at the top of the DeMarcus Cousins trade partner list last summer, with Kevin Love as the main trade piece. There are many reasons why that rumor refuses to die: One, because Love is still not a good fit in Cleveland, title or no title. Two, Love is seen as a worthy trade piece for Cousins.
However, Parent Herald, a site that has made bold claims, recently reported that the Kings are not interested in Love.
"However, the trade will be challenging because Sacramento Kings reportedly want Kyrie Irving in exchange for DeMarcus Cousins and not Kevin Love. Kings' point guard is weak and Irving excels in this position."
If this is indeed true, then that means the Kings are not backing down from demanding a star in return for Cousins no matter what situation.
In that case, it's likely that the Chicago Bulls, another Cousins' suitor as the buzz seems to have heightened as of late (as per this previous report may have to part with Jimmy Butler. This is a steep price to pay but it does help the balance of the team. As of now, the Bulls have all their top offensive players in the backcourt. Trading one of them, even the best and youngest one for the top center doesn't seem all that bad. If the Bulls eventually succumb to chemistry issues as most pundits predict, they could definitely consider this.
The Cavs trading Kyrie Irving is another matter. There is no logjam at the point guard spot in Cleveland. Also, letting Matthew Dellavedova walk was a sign that the Cavs are all in on the former Duke Blue Devil.
Irving has shown maturity and poise in the last NBA Finals, something that could take years to develop for the talented yet volatile DeMarcus Cousins. In that case, the Cavs will probably pass.
