DeMarcus Cousins (Photo : Getty Images)
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge may finally pull off a blockbuster deal that would see Boston back to title contention.
Ainge could still be on the hunt for major trades before the deadline, and one of the names possibly included in the Celtics' list is Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins. While there are concerns over a potential locker room problem in acquiring Cousins, ESPN's Zach Lowe believes Ainge is "a maybe" on trading for Boogie.
"So I think (Celtics president of basketball operations) Danny (Ainge) would gamble. I don't think that is the majority view of the organization, including the coach," Lowe said, reports Jay King of Mass Live. "Right now I would lean Danny Ainge is a maybe, the Celtics overall are a no."
There is no denying Cousins' talent and what he can bring to the table for the Celtics. Cousins is one of the most dominant big men in the league, averaging 28.7 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. Playing for a disciplined team like the Celtics could bring out the better in Cousins, although acquiring him would be too risky, according to SB Nation Celtics Blog writer Jeff Clark.
"Danny Ainge has carefully positioned himself to be ready to pounce when a star becomes available. If the Cousins experiment goes sideways, he'll have expended most of his chips for nothing," Clark wrote.
Trading for Cousins would require the Celtics to give up plenty of their assets, including future draft picks and some of the team's young talents like Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart, with the Kings in deep need of backcourt pieces. But what is more risky is losing key pieces for nothing if Cousins continue creates lock room issues for the Celtics.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has insisted he is not planning on trading Cousins, despite the latter's potential exit. Cousins is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2018 and the longer the Kings hold on to the All-Star center, the lower his trade value gets.
The Celtics, with all the intriguing trade pieces at their disposal, could offer the Kings the most enticing package. Surely, it would be risky, but it could be worth the price if Boston could keep Cousins in check.
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