The Sacramento Kings could eventually trade franchise player DeMarcus Cousins as the team appears to endure another losing season.

Cousins has been on the rumor mill since last season, but the speculations of his impending trade have become louder this time as the two-time NBA All-Star is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018.

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A lot of teams are rumored to be interested in adding the 26-year-old center and dealing him now will allow Sacramento to maximize his trade value than when trading him closer to free-agency.

However, ESPN reported that the Kings are not yet ready to trade Cousins at the moment.

Sacramento's senior officials reportedly believe that it is "still on the early side to seriously entertain the idea" of trading Cousins at this point of the season. But if the team will have "another season with less than 40 wins come February", then a trade could eventually happen.

Right now, the Kings are struggling to reach even the .500 mark as usual. They have lost six of their last eight games and are 11th in the West with an 8-15 record. If they continue at this current pace, then it would be an 11th consecutive playoff-less season for the Kings franchise with the last seven of them spearheaded by Cousins.

Meanwhile, Cousins has only expressed loyalty to the Kings and he is confident that he will not be traded anytime soon.

"I talk to management a lot. We're on the same page. I'm not worried about it," said Cousins when asked about the trade rumors involving him.

"To know that you're wanted throughout the league... I'd be worried if nobody wanted me. Then I'd have a situation on my hands. But I'm happy where I am. I'm happy with this team. I'm in a great place," Cousins said.

Bleacher Report noted that if the Kings are subjected to another losing season, then it is highly likely the club will decide to let go of their star player for "a lucrative package of picks and young players" and start a full rebuild.

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