There is no question that DeMarcus Cousins is a talented basketball player. He is young and extremely gifted on the court. Off the court, he is young and extremely immature. His inconsistency over the first three years of his career have infuriated the Sacramento Kings. With a whole new team set up in the Kings front ofice, they are looking to clean house and Cousins is first on the list to go.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the No. 1 overall draft pick this year and plenty of options. While it is highly speculated the team will take former Kentucky star Nerlens Noel with their top pick, but there is also a chance they might trade it away. Owner Dan Gilbert is looking to make the playoffs sooner rather than later and is unsure if drafting a rookie will help in that quest. He wants someone that is proven, someone like Cousins.
Cousins has been one of the top names mentioned during trade discussions. Chad Ford of ESPN reports that the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Bobcats might also make a play for Cousins, but neither team would have the package that Cleveland can put together.
Cousins is only 22-years old. His Player Efficiency Rating is above 20 each of his past two seasons. In 2012, he averaged 9.0 rebounds per game. He averaged 11.0 in 2011. He has tremendous upside as an athlete, however he comes with a large amount of downside. Cousins has a reputation of picking and choosing when he wants to play hard. He sometimes shows a lack of effort on court. He is not a great outside shooter and there is that small issue of suspensions, which he has had a few of.
The Cavaliers are torn with their options in the draft. The team is not sold on any player being the No. 1 guy overall. sources are reporting that Gilbert is really pushing a trade of the pick. A trade for Chandler Parsons in Houston or Thaddeus Young have been put in the picture along with Cousins.
If Cleveland sticks with the top pick, Noel is the likely choice. He is the clear front-runner despite tearing his ACL part way through Kentucky's season. He would be the final piece in the Cavaliers' young core of Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. With veterans like Danny Granger and Anderson Varejao rounding out the lineup, the Cavaliers could have the dynamic team they have been attempting to build.