The Cleveland Cavaliers could acquire DeMarcus Cousins in a three-way trade that also involves the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders has revealed that the Kings have no intentions of talking a trade for often disgruntled big man DeMarcus Cousins, including inquiries from the Cavs and the Boston Celtics.
"League sources peg the Kings' stance on Cousins as a 'non-starter.' They simply won't go there on trade talk despite longstanding interest from the Boston Celtics and at least one inquiry for the Cleveland Cavaliers," Kyler wrote.
However, Sam Amico of Amico Hoops claimed that the Kings have been receptive to recent conversations. While Amico claimed this in context of the Celtics pursuing Cousins, it may also be applied to the Cavs, who could use some significant addition to their roster to stay ahead of the Golden State Warriors.
With that being said, Cousins can be an ideal target for the Cavs, although any potential blockbuster deal would be complicated. But according to Hoops Habit writer Sai Mohan, one possible trade the Cavs may explore is a three-way trade involving the Kings and Brooklyn Nets.
In Mohan's trade scenario, the Cavs would send Kevin Love, Mike Dunleavy, Mo Williams and a future draft pick to the Kings, who then sends Rudy Gay to the Nets, and Cousins and Ben McLemore to Cleveland. The Nets would also move Bojan Bogdanovic to Sacramento.
Bringing in Cousins would give the Cavs another reliable offensive threat and could possibly become the team's secondary scoring option. Meanwhile, McLemore gives Cleveland another athletic wing who fits very well pushing the pace for the Cavs' offense.
On the other hand, adding Love would give the Kings a big man who can also score and rebound, but would complement more to a loaded frontcourt, with Love playing the four spot.
"Love, a former UCLA standout, would get to return to the state of California. More importantly, he would be the No. 1 scoring option on a young Kings roster," Mohan wrote.
"Love, who once averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game for the Minnesota Timberwolves, can return to All-Star status and lead a young team. Mike Dunleavy, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mo Williams would bolster their weak backcourt."
As for the Nets, Gay, who has reportedly requested the Kings for a trade, would surely be a valuable addition to a team lacking a veteran talent at the wing position.
The Cavs have yet to sign LeBron James, but it is widely expected the King would return to Cleveland. As long as James and his supporting cast are healthy, the Cavs' should still be contenders, but may fall short against super teams like the Warriors, who now have Kevin Durant in their plethora of All-Star-caliber players.
Whether the Cavs would truly consider trading Love for Cousins remains to be seen, but if Cleveland wants to repeat as champions, dealing for Boogie could be the only remaining option for the Wine and Gold.