Team USA center DeMarcus Cousins dunks the ball against China. (Photo : Getty Images)
More predictions and NBA trade rumors emerge from the experts at ESPN Insider and it's almost impossible not to touch the DeMarcus Cousins conundrum.
It seems that now, more than ever, the writing is on the wall for a Boogie Cousins trade. Hardly any of the NBA pundits believe that the best center in the NBA today would stick around with his original team after his contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Every offseason (and even during the season itself) all eyes are on the Sacramento Kings front office to see what they can do to fix their team (and convince Boogie to stay) but all they can muster is a coaching change. All that seems to do is buy time but unless coach Dave Joerger can pull off a minor miracle and send the Kings playoff-bound for the first time in DeMarcus Cousins' career, the Kings may have to bite the bullet.
ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton believes that it's for the good of the team and while he doesn't call Cousins a cancer in the locker room, he notes that Boogie is not a good leader for a young team.
"As remarkable a player as Cousins is, the way he interacts with young teammates makes it difficult for them to live up to their potential," Pelton mentioned.
Fellow Insider Bradford Doolittle said it's too early and Dave Joerger needs to get a fair chance. Amin Elhassan gave a dissenting opinion saying it's too late to trade him.
"The ship has sailed as far as being able to move him, get good assets in return and change the culture in Sacramento," Elhassan reasoned. The Kings should just gamble on what Joerger can do.
The Kings have already named players to trade, namely Rudy Gay, Kosta Koufos and Ben McLemore. Doolittle suggested a player to target: "Given their direction under Joerger, I love Ricky Rubio for this team. The Kings need passers, and Rubio would fit right in with their new defensive identity."
In an earlier report NBC quoted Darren Wolfson, a Minnesota reporter, which implied that the Kings could make a move on Rubio.
"As Glen Taylor said on this podcast a couple episodes ago, Ricky Rubio will start the season with the Wolves. But I can tell you, as I've said a number of times, the Sacramento Kings are a team to watch. Vlade Divac, George Karl, now George Karl into Dave Joerger. Keep an eye on the Sacramento Kings if slash when the Wolves decide to make a move on Ricky. But, again, nothing is imminent. Ricky Rubio will be with the Wolves opening night," Wolfson said.
It can be assumed that Minnesota was not satisfied with whatever the Kings could offer, namely the players they placed on the trading block. The situation could change midseason and the Kings might raise the offer, but the Wolves need a shooter and unless McLemore can improve, the Kings don't have much to present
