The Portland Trail Blazers could land DeMarcus Cousins in a proposed three-way blockbuster deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings.
SB Nation's Blazers Edge explored a three-team trade that would see Cousins land in Portland. In the wild trade scenario by Smooth Hooperator, the Kings send Cousins to the Blazers and Omri Casspi to the Pelicans, while acquiring Allen Crabbe, Al Farouq Aminu (Blazers) and Buddy Hield (Pelicans. Portland would send Mason Plumlee and Meyers Leonard to New Orleans, who would then ship Omer Asik to the Blazers.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Blazers' non-stop spending in the offseason that saw them retain the likes of Allen Crabbe and Moe Harkless, as well as the addition of Evan Turner was a form of "asset collection."
But while the Blazers have plenty of tradable chips to dangle in a potential deal, Mike Richman of The Oregonian believes the team could face challenged looking for deals in the trade market, with potential pieces like Crabbe, Harkless and Meyers Leonard cannot get traded until January 15.
"The Blazers, according to rival front office executives, are right to be included in the rumors - they are expected to be active in trade talks leading up to the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline. But activity doesn't always translate to action and swinging a deal for a quality frontcourt player, arguably the Blazers' biggest need, is complicated," Richman wrote.
The Blazers are hanging tight at the eighth spot in the West, but it would behoove the team to acquire an All-Star talent like Cousins to improve their chances of competing in the playoffs. Barring any possible locker room issues Cousins could bring in, his presence would elevate the team's game in many ways.
Would Portland consider breaking up their core to acquire Cousins? Aminu, Crabbe, Leonard and Plumlee have played essential in the Blazers' success in the past few seasons, especially after their mini-rebuild in the summer of 2015. But if the Blazers would have a chance at acquiring Cousins, it is a deal worth exploring for the franchise.
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