The Sacramento Kings is reportedly thinking about trading DeMarcus Cousins if the right offer presents itself, rather than risk losing the All-Star center for nothing when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2018, recent NBA trade rumors have hinted.

According to Sportsrageous, the Kings should trade Cousins before next year's February trade deadline, while the center's value is still at its highest. Accordingly, "Boogie's departure in the 2018 NBA free agency is inevitable," if the Kings does not become title contender soon.

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With Sacramento not making any significant changes to the roster this offseason, it looks like the Kings is again headed into a playoff-less campaign, which would be the 11th straight time for the team. It would also prolong Cousins' debut appearance in the postseason as he had never played in a playoff game in his first six years as a professional, all in Sacramento.

The latest NBA trade rumors also suggested that the Kings is obviously preparing for Cousins' expected exit as it drafted two young centers, Georgios Papagiannis and Skal Labissiere, in this year's draft. The two young big men will be third-year players by the time the former Kentucky standout decides whether he wants to stay or not.

Losing Rajon Rondo to the Chicago Bulls in free-agency further weakened the Kings. With its remaining legitimate point guard, Darren Collison, suspended during the regular season's first eight games, it is easy to predict that Cousins is headed to a seventh straight failed season, which would further increase his desire to get out of the club soonest.

Basketball Insiders' Moke Hamilton said  "the wisest thing" for the Kings to do right now is to trade him because there are no indications that Cousins' trade value will get higher "between now and July 1, 2018."

It seems almost sure that Cousins will leave his observed disappointing situation in Sacramento in a heartbeat once it becomes official for other teams to offer him a contract elsewhere. Thus, the Kings is increasingly pressured to find the right trade partner as the summer of 2018 approaches.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2016, DeMarcus Cousins, sacramento kings, Sacramento Kings rumors