CHINA TOPIX

11/21/2024 06:39:21 pm

Make CT Your Homepage

NBA Trade Rumors: Kings Could Trade DeMarcus Cousins This Summer if Coaching Hunt Disagreement Happens

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins

(Photo : Getty Images) Rumors were out that the Sacramento Kings could trade franchise center DeMarcus Cousins in the summer if he disagrees with the decision of top team officials regarding the hiring of their new head coach.

Rumors were out that the Sacramento Kings could trade franchise center DeMarcus Cousins in the summer if he disagrees with the decision of top team officials regarding the hiring of their new head coach.

Following another disappointing season where the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 10th straight season and finished with a dismal record of 33-49 in the Western Conference, Kings vice president and general manager Vlade Divac fired George Karl late last week after a season-and-a-half of being the team's top bench tactician.

Like Us on Facebook

Karl's firing was actually expected to happen at the end of the season as the former Denver Nuggets head coach was not hired by Divac in the first place. Also, with the current state the Kings are in right now, any significant improvement will evidently start with a coaching change.

With that, Divac is currently on a hunt for the team's new head coach and a report from Sacramento Bee's Ailene Voisin says that the former Kings center turned front office official may not be keen on considering the suggestions of current franchise big man Cousins with regards to his search.

It should be noted that Sacramento have already had five different head coaches that handled Cousins since he became a King in 2010 and none of them lasted more than two seasons with the incorrigible player.

Divac should also be well-aware of that fact and so Fansided reported that the Kings could be shopping Cousins come offseason if he will not be supportive of the GM's coaching search.

The report cited Voisin's article saying that Cousins is no longer "untouchable" in Sacramento and "for the first time" Divac "is willing to test the market for the two-time All-Star".

It also noted that the only coach Cousins has ever gelled with was Mike Malone, who is now with the Nuggets. Malone was fired by team owner Vivek Ranadive because he wanted to change into a more up-tempo style of play from Malone's slow-paced system, which is actually Cousins' preference.

If Divac would be okay to hire a coach in accordance to Cousins' penchant for a slower pace, then it is highly likely that he will remain with the team next season. If not, then expect a busy offseason in Sacramento this summer.

Real Time Analytics