The 2016-2017 season of the National Basketball Association is already inching closer to the trade deadline and the NBA trade rumor mill is continuously spinning. Before the trade deadline next year, the Sacramento Kings might see a different set of superstars while the Boston Celtics might acquire a young bigman.
Forbes reported that Kings bigman Demarcus Cousins might be on his way out of Sac Town after a series of controversial encounters with the media and fellow NBA players. A few weeks ago, Cousins confronted Sacramento Bee columnist Andy Furillo inside the Kings locker room. The 26-year-old berated the veteran journalist after he included Cousin's brother in one of his write-ups.
Also, in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Cousins spit his mouthpiece towards the Blazers bench after scoring an and-one to seal Sacramento's 126-121 win last Dec. 20. He earned his second technical foul which led to an ejection but the call was overturned as he came back in the game to shoot the bonus free throw. In the post-game interview, he expressed his frustration with the officiating and threw a mild jab at Portland center Mason Plumlee.
The multi-faceted bigman has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Kings may receive the best trade return for D'Angelo Russell and other players.
Also, Kings forward Rudy Gay, who just got back to action after suffering hip problems, has been linked to trades with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gay might also land in Orlando Magic as the struggling franchise is looking to move its young guns in Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton.
Meanwhile, with the emergence of Joel Embiid as the Philadelphia 76ers' main man, sophomore center Jahlil Okafor might suit up with another team, reportedly the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have a rich lineup in their backcourt while the 76ers have plenty of bigmen in their frontcourt and dealing Okafor to possibly Avery Bradley or other Boston guard might help both teams in their quest in the Eastern Conference.
The trade deadline will be on Feb. 23, right after the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans on Feb. 17 to 19, The Oregonian reported.
Watch the video below of Cousin's confrontation with the Bee reporter: