The NBA trade rumors have been dominated by the Carmelo Anthony saga but the biggest trade could still happen before the deadline.
While it seems that the Sacramento Kings have finally succeeded in closing the book on DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors, they are still not secure as a playoff team as the race for the 8th spot in the West continues to tighten.
Can both the Kings and Boogie survive another playoff shutout-the seventh straight of Cousins' career (he's never had a minute of postseason experience)?
Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN had a thorough dissection of the Sacramento Kings and noted that Cousins, while being a generational talent, is also part of the problem. He took notes from various front offices in the league and shared their observations.
"When this front office breaks down a Cousins game, it invariably finds half a dozen possessions per game when he sabotages the Kings. Sometimes it's not getting back on defense because he has overdramatized a fall on a drive. Sometimes it's an ill-advised shot early in the possession whose only explanation is acting out against a noncall or an incorrect call. Sometimes it's a missed opportunity for a teammate because Cousins has clearly broken off a play," Arnovitz noted.
The question of whether the Kings would be better without Cousins will always linger and despite Kings' owner Viveka Ranadive's declaration that they will not trade their prized player, there are rational people in the Kings' fold that would heave a sigh of relief if these trade offers ever emerge and Sacramento would finally rely on less temperamental, albeit less talented options.
Last week, Andrew Sharp of Sports Illustrated gave a very enticing hypothetical trade: "The dream scenario? Drummond, Stanley Johnson, and a 2018 first-round pick to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins, who might average 40 playing under Van Gundy. All in favor, please say: Motor City Boogie."
Drummond is a talented center, but Boogie is a major upgrade. Stanley Johnson spent time in Stan Van Gundy's doghouse, but he could get major minutes in a small forward-starved Kings' roster (they just lost Rudy Gay to injury). SVG would be the ideal strong personality to rein in Boogie, and he develops centers quite well (see 2008-2010 Dwight Howard).
The Boston Celtics are seen as the other team which could assemble a Godfather offer for Boogie. The 2017 Brooklyn Nets' pick swap, the 2018 Nets' unprotected pick, a combo of Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder or Jaylen Brown could do the trick along with Kelly Olynyk. That's basically the prime pieces of the Celtics' war chest, but isn't Cousins the best center in the league now.
The Indiana Pacers could be a surprise contender for DeMarcus Cousins, but the price will be steep. Paul George and Myles Turner will force the Kings to drop their centerpiece and even additional pieces. However, this scenario is next to impossible. George is the ideal, disciplined superstar (next to Kawhi Leonard perhaps) while Cousins has all of the drama.
Turner has tons of potential and some argue that the Pacers can trade for Cousins on a package hinged on him, but they don't really have other pieces to add.