The DeMarcus Cousins saga is far from over and the drama continues to heighten as the Sacramento Kings embark on the offseason.
The Kings are, once again, looking for a coach and for Cousins that means another adjustment after the George Karl era ended in failure.
Cousins recently had a revealing interview with CBS Sacramento and there were some juicy takeaways as the star center shares his real opinions on his team, particularly the front office (h/t Sactown Royalty).
The beleaguered center described the past season as rough and disappointing. He openly aired his regret about losing former coach Mike Malone, stating that the Kings would be a playoff team if Malone was still the coach.
DeMarcus also praised the fans of the Kings for putting up with the team's, specifically their front office's questionable moves. Aside from the Malone firing, Cousins cited the Isaiah Thomas trade. There were rumors that Cousins did not like playing with the diminutive point guard but those have been dispelled. Now that Thomas is a legitimate All-Star in Boston, the trade is all the more a loss for the franchise.
The next few weeks will be pivotal for Cousins, specifically the coaching decision. Boogie has been painted in a bad light-as a "coach killer." Whether these accusations are right or wrong, it must be noted that he got along with Mike Malone and he was not informed that the latter was fired.
The latest rumors on Cousins status on the team has run both ends. There are reports that GM Vlade Divac is tired of him and is open to trade but there are also reports that dispute that.
In case the Kings do consider trading Cousins, various trade scenarios have been explored. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and LA Lakers have been possible destinations but team site Behind The Buck Pass called for the team to go all-out for Cousins in last year's offseason.
The Bucks are rumored to pursue a center even if they landed Greg Monroe last season. Monroe's lack of defense was mentioned as one of the reasons for the Bucks' disappointing season. Cousins would be an improvement on both ends of the court.
If the Bucks would send Monroe and a big piece like Khris Middleton or Jabari Parker, the Kings would have a package worthy for their franchise big man. This may be perceived as a high price to pay, but a combo of Cousins and Giannis Antetokounmpo would cause shockwaves around the league (along with Middleton or Parker, whoever is left).
This scenario is purely speculative but based on Cousins' interview, the Kings' hold on him is not too tight. If the front office busts on the coaching choice, a trade demand could take out all their leverage.