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There were big expectations for Sacramento Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins after a strong rookie campaign. Things haven't gotten off to a strong start, however, and now there is an apparent rift developing between the team and its young frontcourt force.
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee provides the details:
The Kings maintain that DeMarcus Cousins demanded to be traded. Cousins maintains that didn't happen. Neither side is budging on its claim following a meeting Monday involving Cousins, his agent, John Greig, and Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie.
It's clear that the two sides aren't on the same page even though Cousins returned to the lineup against the Memphis Grizzlies. He had just four points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
The Kentucky product showed off his potential last season by averaging 14 points and nine rebounds while playing in all but one game. That durability from a young post player is especially important in today's game when so many guys are breaking down.
Sacramento's struggles in recent seasons have allowed the front office to build a roster with a lot of depth on the perimeter. There isn't nearly as much talent in the paint, however, which is why it's important the Kings convince Cousins to stay.
His shooting woes in the early going aside, Cousins is the best big man the team has and he has a boatload of potential.
Whatever disconnect has occurred over the last couple weeks is nothing of major consequence. Cousins is not the first and won't be the last player to have a disagreement with his own team, the important part is moving past it and doing what's best for the organization.
Since the story about a possible trade demand became public, Cousins won't command full price on the market. Teams will be wary of giving up anything of equal value for a player who is seemingly looking for an escape route after just one year and the Kings would be crazy to trade him cheap just to move him.
So, the team's only legitimate option right now is the continuing talking with him to get past the current issues. Cousins will eventually rediscover his rhythm on the court while the Kings will continue their quest toward becoming a Western Conference contender.
Trading him would just set back an already extended process by another season and that's something Kings fans don't want to hear.
It's time for everybody involved to stop pointing fingers and get refocused on the season ahead.
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