DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t trust coach George Karl, and they simply don’t get along, writes TNT’s David Aldridge in his Morning Tip column for NBA.com. The relationship is beyond repair, Aldridge believes, and while he thinks Cousins is the best center in the game, the Kings should trade him anyway, he posits, offering a suggestion for a deal he thinks would help Sacramento and send a message that GM Vlade Divac and Karl will be around for the long term. The criticism of Karl’s energy level is unfair, and the Kings should empower one of the best coaches ever, Aldridge opines.
In other news around the Pacific Division:
- Numerous league executives doubt that Kobe Bryant will last the season, Sam Amico of SamAmicoBasketball.com reports. One unnamed GM told Amico that Bryant’s body can no longer hold up to the rigors of an 82-game NBA season. “I hope I’m wrong, because who doesn’t admire an old warrior — but he has nowhere to go but down at this stage of his playing career,” the GM said. “The body doesn’t want to be argued with, and it’s telling him it’s time to go.” Bryant played 36 minutes on Sunday, an indication that Lakers have two priorities regarding their aging superstar: allowing him to do what he wants, and winning during a supposed rebuilding season, Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com argues. By leaving Bryant on the court that long, coach Byron Scott showed that he will let Bryant play as much as he wants when he’s in uniform, Holmes continues. Bryant’s power over the Lakers organization is greater than ever and Scott, being one of his biggest supporters, will let him dictate the terms of his farewell tour, Holmes adds.
- Andrew Bogut was surprised when interim Warriors coach Luke Walton told the media he would return to the starting lineup as soon as Tuesday, Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group reports. The undefeated Warriors have utilized Festus Ezeli as the starting center while Bogut recovered from a concussion and Bogut has no problem with keeping things status quo, Leung continues. “Like I’ve said from the start, I’ve been starting my whole career, but I understand I missed [six] games there, and we won all of them,” Bogut told Leung. “Maybe the starters are used to having Festus there the first six, seven minutes and get their rhythm that way.”
I wonder if Steve Kerr would have kept Bogut on the bench, and maybe turned him into this year’s version of David Lee as a guy who goes from starter to afterthought.
They have some similarities with their offensive games, but Bogut is exponentially better defensively. I don’t think he’ll see many DNPs, assuming health. That being said, their athleticism is obviously better with Ezili over Bogut. I have to admit it, b/c I wasn’t a fan of his before, but Ezili has looked super improved since the postseason started last year, and he has carried it over so far. We’re finally seeing the potential that some thought he had a couple of years back. If he continues, it will make some lineup decisions interesting at times
I anticipate Bogut will get the nod as the season goes along because he’ll be more effective setting a defensive tone with the first unit. Festus’ energy and athleticism will boost the second unit.
So, trade the “best center in the game” and Darren Collison (and a future 2nd rounder) for a backup C (Kelly Olynyk), David Lee’s expiring contract, Dallas’ 2016 1st rounder, Boston’s 2018 1st rounder (neither of which will be near the top of the draft), and get back our 1st rounder from Philly.
Who’s playing PG after Rondo leaves next year? Is Cauley-Stein ready to start now at C? Why trade a star center for present and future backups? Wasn’t that the problem before the Stauskas trade — too many bit players taking up cap room?
Most importantly, why trade Cousins to show confidence in Karl and Divac? If the problem is Ranadive, trading Cousins won’t prove anything. Karl could be shown the door the next day anyway. If you trade your best player (or fire your coach), you do it to improve the team, not send a message.
Like most of the national NBA writers, David Aldridge purposely misunderstands what the Sixers are doing so he has something to write about. He knows Hinkie is not concerned with getting mediocre players and trying to win 25-35 games, just for the sake of satisfying the basketball purists. Right or wrong, the Sixers are going all out for an MVP level talent, and they’re not going to stop now, particularly and especially with Ben Simmons on the horizon. Philadelphia, on purpose, has guards who are terrible on defense so that Noel and Okafor can develop while assuredly losing almost all of their games. Both Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten fit that mold as well.
The Sixers also don’t want to help out the Celtics!