The Sacramento Kings may still look a DeMarcus Cousins trade this year after George Karl pushed a deal this summer, as the LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets could be potential landing spots if Willie Cauley-Stein performs well in the Summer League and this comes after Karl had interest in Kenneth Faried earlier this offseason.
The Kings have been very active this offseason in making moves, bringing in Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, Omri Casspi and Luc Mbah a Moute as they try and improve from last year. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Kings are showing some interest in Matt Bonner and he could be an option if he does not sign back with the San Antonio Spurs. Karl was brought in as head coach at the end of last season, but he immediately made some waves by reportedly pushing a deal with Cousins.
Cousins has turned into a franchise player for the Kings and is an All-Star caliber center, but a trade is reportedly not off the table for the team. According to the Sacramento Bee, the relationship between Karl and Cousins is not quite where it needs to be and that there are issues that "have not been resolved" and that could lead the team to make a move. Jason Jones reports that Vlade Divac added Casspi to help the team with outside shooting and that the Kings have "high expectations" with draft pick Willie Cauley-Stein.
Check here for more on the DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors from the Sac Bee, the relationshipbetween George Karl and Cousins, the interest from the LA Lakers in Cousins, the interest of Karl in Kenneth Faried and more on the play of Willie Cauley-Stein in the NBA Summer League. Also, check here for some great video of Karl and Cousins meeting at the Summer League. It's a litte awkward.
Jason Jones of the Bee writes that Cousins "could be traded" and that Divac could consider talking with the Lakers again after previous interest this offseason. According to Yahoo sports, the Kings and Lakers "exchanged a framework" on a trade for Cuisines before the NBA draft, but the sides did not come close to making a deal. The Lakers added Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass this offseason, but they still could be interested in Cousins down the line.
Earlier in the offseason Chris Broussard of ESPN reported that Karl wanted to move Cousins and trade for his former players Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson in Denver. Lawson has had a mess of an offseason and the Kings signed Rondo, so he is off the table, but Karl has always liked Faried and could push the Kings to make that move. The Nuggets could be in rebuilding mode moving forward and if they have a tough season, trading Faried could be an option.
Divac said that the team is looking to improve on offense and that the additions of Belinelli and Rondo should help the team move the ball better. Koufos joins Cousins up front with Willie Cauley-Stein and he comes in after getting some strong interest on the agree agent market. Jones writes that Cousins, "if he stays" and Rudy Gay are the "only players certain to start."
Stein has reportedly looked good in the Summer League and the team is hoping he can make an impact right away. The Kings are trying to improve quickly and while trading away the best player on the roster is not the usually the way to make that happen, Karl could convince the front office it could help the team win. Karl may see Cousins as a great player but not one that can lead his team to the playoffs.