ESPN Interview: Cousins Neither Desires Nor Expects to Be Traded
- Thread starter Bricklayer
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Lots of thoughts and ideas about our future as the Sacramento Kings from you, KingsFan80, and others. Talking past transactions is a waste of time in my view. If we go status quo, rebuild with Cuz, rebuild without Cuz, I want Vlade to be in charge. We need Vlade to be in charge. Meantime let's work on getting some more wins with the team we have right now. Go to the game tonight. See you there.
Y'all realize ;
If the Kings trade Demarcus, it's not just Demarcus who will be viewed a failure for not winning here.
The Kings will be haunted for YEARS with the reputation that they didn't make it work with a HoF talent (who very likely will win elsewhere) that was more loyal than he ever should have been to a franchise that never went to bat for him and allowed him to be crap'd on for years.
NO good player would even think about coming here, other than for a paycheck.
The view would be "The Kings never put support around Cousins - why should I think it'd be any different for me?"
Trading Demarcus would be a referendum on this franchise, and doom it to personnel purgatory for the better part of a decade, at least.
Really, at this point, I see the Kings franchise and Demarcus' futures inextricably linked - they either fail together or they succeed at becoming a playoff team together and salvage both their reputations for the foreseeable future.
If the Kings trade Demarcus, it's not just Demarcus who will be viewed a failure for not winning here.
The Kings will be haunted for YEARS with the reputation that they didn't make it work with a HoF talent (who very likely will win elsewhere) that was more loyal than he ever should have been to a franchise that never went to bat for him and allowed him to be crap'd on for years.
NO good player would even think about coming here, other than for a paycheck.
The view would be "The Kings never put support around Cousins - why should I think it'd be any different for me?"
Trading Demarcus would be a referendum on this franchise, and doom it to personnel purgatory for the better part of a decade, at least.
Really, at this point, I see the Kings franchise and Demarcus' futures inextricably linked - they either fail together or they succeed at becoming a playoff team together and salvage both their reputations for the foreseeable future.
He is loyal. That is something to work with.
I see a progression in DMC's maturity. He has turned his anger from the officials to the opposition. Maybe coach J taught him that move. It would help for him to control his anger better. I hope he does not smack someone or catch someone with an elbow. I will never forget Rudy T when he got his face crushed. These are big people that can do some serious damage.
I remember catching a guy in the ribs in a rec game totally by accident with no malice at all. The next time I saw him he was in street clothes with busted ribs.
I see a progression in DMC's maturity. He has turned his anger from the officials to the opposition. Maybe coach J taught him that move. It would help for him to control his anger better. I hope he does not smack someone or catch someone with an elbow. I will never forget Rudy T when he got his face crushed. These are big people that can do some serious damage.
I remember catching a guy in the ribs in a rec game totally by accident with no malice at all. The next time I saw him he was in street clothes with busted ribs.
Kevin Durant/Aldridge said the same. Cousins seems a particular loyal, but to consign your future to a team that has yet to prove anything is a lot to ask anyone, given the choices he will have. I expect him to stay if we show progress, but as an asset the entirety of the situation has to be weighed objectively and the risk of him leaving is a legit option that plays into what to do with him IF a generous trade package comes along. The new extension rules do improve this a bit
I've also stated my fears of the contingency of fans (such as many on SactownRoyalty) and media which may make him feel a tad bit unsupported. I hope he has a thick enough skin to where it's not an issue.
I've also stated my fears of the contingency of fans (such as many on SactownRoyalty) and media which may make him feel a tad bit unsupported. I hope he has a thick enough skin to where it's not an issue.
Yep it was a calculated risk on OKC's part that didn't work out. Like you point out Durant walked away for a constant 50 win team, that's not easy. Can the Kings afford to take that gamble? IMO no they can't. Luckily with this new CBA it sounds like if we don't sign Cousins in the offseason we will know he isn't committed to the Kings and we can move him. Hopefully it's before the draft too but I'm not sure what the new CBA allows. IMO if the Kings take a calculated risk like OKC did with Durant and lose it would set this franchise back another decade or so.
I highly doubt that Durant and Cousins are made out of the same cloth. Cousins is saying all the rights things and he doesn't seem like a guy to beat around the bush, he is straight forward, honest & loyal. If you can get him to commit to an extension in the off season, then he can go ahead and suffer with the Kings and the fans as they struggle to put a winner around him.
Let's be honest a trade is probably best for both sides. Let Cousins get a fresh start somewhere and the Kings can start to rebuild with picks with a upcoming loaded draft.
If the Kings keep Cousins how can they bring him any help to drastically improve the roster?
Kings barely have any assets they can't trade for an impact player.
If they keep Cousins they are gonna be stuck where they are..not good enough to be a factor and not bad enough to get a high pick in a draft..that's the worst place you can be in the nba
If the Kings keep Cousins how can they bring him any help to drastically improve the roster?
Kings barely have any assets they can't trade for an impact player.
If they keep Cousins they are gonna be stuck where they are..not good enough to be a factor and not bad enough to get a high pick in a draft..that's the worst place you can be in the nba
I mentioned this to the Celtics fan who likes to hang out around here.
Do you know how they acquired Isaiah Thomas? It was for Marcus Thornton and the #29 pick in the draft.
Heck, we acquired Isaiah Thomas for the #60 pick in the draft a few years before that.
Paul Milsap, 2nd rounder. Manu Ginobili 2nd rounder. Think Steve Nash was a #15 pick, Think Kobe was a #17 pick. Kawhi Leonard was a #14? or some such. Whiteside 2nd rounder. Gobert...forget. Later first I think. Jimmy Butler was a #30 pick. Giannis a #15.
Its not perfect. Its not the way you draw it up. But you can absolutely score a major player with the sorts of assets we have and will have. You just have to win a trade or spot something in the draft. That's before we get to a somewhat higher class of FAs considering us if we start winning and maintain stability for a few years. And the difference is that with Cousins and with Joerger we no longer need to score the savior level player. We only need to score the wingman.
Do you know how they acquired Isaiah Thomas? It was for Marcus Thornton and the #29 pick in the draft.
Heck, we acquired Isaiah Thomas for the #60 pick in the draft a few years before that.
Paul Milsap, 2nd rounder. Manu Ginobili 2nd rounder. Think Steve Nash was a #15 pick, Think Kobe was a #17 pick. Kawhi Leonard was a #14? or some such. Whiteside 2nd rounder. Gobert...forget. Later first I think. Jimmy Butler was a #30 pick. Giannis a #15.
Its not perfect. Its not the way you draw it up. But you can absolutely score a major player with the sorts of assets we have and will have. You just have to win a trade or spot something in the draft. That's before we get to a somewhat higher class of FAs considering us if we start winning and maintain stability for a few years. And the difference is that with Cousins and with Joerger we no longer need to score the savior level player. We only need to score the wingman.
since when were "Kings" drafting anyone?
What do PDA/Petrie have to do with 2017 draft?
Divac and folks are the ones in charge for a year and a half with Joerger as a key player for half a year. For drafting and young players generalization that is the time horizon. How does what was done before that implies what will be done by Divac's team?
Season and a half and two drafts are not enough for any kind of generalization. One can be critical of individual moves, but I do not think you can pass reliable judgement in such short time about drafting and players development success.
What do PDA/Petrie have to do with 2017 draft?
Divac and folks are the ones in charge for a year and a half with Joerger as a key player for half a year. For drafting and young players generalization that is the time horizon. How does what was done before that implies what will be done by Divac's team?
Season and a half and two drafts are not enough for any kind of generalization. One can be critical of individual moves, but I do not think you can pass reliable judgement in such short time about drafting and players development success.
Correct. That is why I maintain that DMC is tradable, but I do not want him traded for prospects or draft picks. I only want him traded for players who have established themselves and have years left in the tank. I would ask for a team's best player or the 2nd and 3rd best player.
For example, Portand would need to give us Lillard or they would need to give us CJ and Harkiss. Or CJ and Plumlee. You don't trade DMC away for a "maybe one day."
For example, Portand would need to give us Lillard or they would need to give us CJ and Harkiss. Or CJ and Plumlee. You don't trade DMC away for a "maybe one day."
End of the next season. Two out of those five guys (including Bogdan) to be in the 7-8 player rotation of the average NBA team would make it passing grade for both, player development and drafting. That would be my minimum expectations.
To be happy, at least one has to be starter material and additional two in that 7-8 player rotation.
How about you?
To be happy, at least one has to be starter material and additional two in that 7-8 player rotation.
How about you?