FEBRUARY 1, 8:18am: There’s “nothing to” the reported talks between the Suns and Kings, according to Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee, who tweets that the Kings don’t have interest in moving Cousins, especially without getting a high-level player in return.
Considering the original report came from a Phoenix outlet, with a Sacramento outlet throwing cold water on it, I would guess that any Cousins talks were initiated by the Suns. The Kings may have listened to Phoenix’s pitch, but there’s still no indication that they’re looking to move their star big man.
It’s also worth noting that members of rival teams have said that Sacramento’s front office structure is confusing to navigate, as Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com wrote last week. It’s possible that the Suns discussed Cousins with one Kings executive even if Sacramento – as an organization – ultimately wouldn’t have signed off on a trade.
JANUARY 31, 4:52pm: The Suns have had discussions with the Kings about big man DeMarcus Cousins, says John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports, although there’s no indication that the trade talks ever developed into anything serious.
The deal, Gambadoro reports, was said to center around a package involving at least T.J. Warren, Alex Len and the Suns’ first-round pick in 2017.
Worth noting is that both Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker were specifically exempt from the alleged proposal. Not only are Bledsoe and Booker two of the more intriguing assets on Phoenix’s roster, they’re Kentucky alumni like Cousins.
This isn’t the first time that Cousins’ name has been involved in trade speculation and it’s not likely to be the last. The center looked to be a likely trade target prior to Sacramento’s emergence as a contender in the Western Conference but then the team started to win more games. Now that Rudy Gay is expected to miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, they’ve fallen into a three-way tie for 10th in the West.
Earlier this month news broke that the Kings and Cousins were on track for a $200MM contract extension this summer but that may not deter Sacramento’s front office from moving their young superstar should it net them a suitable return from Phoenix or elsewhere.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Woah mamma.
PLEASE. This would be the deal to save the Suns and slingshot them back into relevance.
I follow basketball regularly and I can’t understand why this would happen
From which standpoint Phoenix or Sacramento? Phoenix wants to get over the hump and into the playoffs …..Sacramento wants to dump a problem.
It actually makes total sense. Cousins wants to play with his former wildcat teammates i.e Bledsoe. He will never win in Sac, the organization I believe was toxic prior to the arrival of Cousins (this is a chicken or the egg argument). By trading him, Kings get youth and excellent draft picks. Suns get the star player they need to not only compete but to draw other FA’s. A core of Cousins, Bledsoe, Booker, Chriss and FA/Tucker can compete in the West once GS gets a little older and the Spurs/Clippers disappear from relevance. I have thought about this for a while but honestly this is a trade match made in heaven and I hope it comes to fruition.
He won’t win in Phoenix either
So based on this post, the Suns get Cousins and Sacramento doesn’t get any of Phoenix’s good pieces aside from maybe a draft pick? Talk about unrealistic. Ain’t happening.
thank you
Suns will get him for nothing in 1 1/2 years if he is committed to play with Bledsoe.
Must be a suns fan. Trading average talent for great talent
Being a 6er fan,I’d love to see this deal.we’ve been playing our way out of a top 5 pick.with our right to swap with Sacramento,this would make it more likely they end up in that area.Pheonix would probably climb the standings as well,further improving Sacs pick potential.
Same man
If the suns pull this off i give them big props!!! but i feel the kings would take a package involving booker, Bledsoe, len and a first round draft pick kings might want to trade another player together with cousins maybe a player like ben mclemore or arron afflalo..
Sun’s not giving up Booker
As a suns fan I really really don’t want to give up this years draft pick. This years draft is stacked with talent and it sounds like that’s the main thing Sacramento wants. If there was a way to not give up this years draft pick and still come away with cousins I would be completely on board.
Alex Len, Tj Warren, Dragan Bender, and both the future Miami picks would be a package I think both sides would have to give serious consideration to making that deal.
On 1 side,I agree I wouldn’t wanna give up this year’s pick.I’d wanna team up Booker with Jackson to form a pretty good 2 way sg/sf combo.
But you’re not getting Cousins w/o out either that pick or Booker.Miamis pick has protections,plus it’s Pat Riley and Miami.they’ll definitely be improved by the time the 2nd pick comes around,and they can go from top 10 pick this year,to top 10 team next.
You’re pry right. I’m just really hesitant to give up a pick in this draft. I would even be willing to give up more if the suns future picks along with the Miami picks if it meant keeping this years pick.
If the Suns were able to keep their pick this year, they either committed robbery or gave up one (or two, depending on who else is in the deal) of Booker/Chriss/Bender plus probably Warren, Len, and future Suns/Miami picks.
Cousins is toxic. He is not worth anywhere near you asking price
And yet he’s a top 2 big in the league and a top 10-15 player overall. Even with his attitude issues, it doesn’t take away from his pure talent.
Should be your asking price.
You are joking. Suns will wait and get him for nothing.
He wants to play with Bledsoe.
If that’s what Phoenix offered, Boston should be in on this now. Crowder, Smart, 2 BKN picks, rights to Yabusele. Add more if you want, but something like this.
And what would they do for depth? Crowder has looked tradable at times and Smart hasn’t been exactly a force on offense, but that would seriously deplete depth. Jaylen would have to start regularly and then Olynyk, Jerebko, or Amir Johnson move up to 6th man.
Getting Boogie would be amazing, but with that said, the Celtics really have to be careful with what they give up too.
Amir is a good 6th man, and Rozier has looked good, plus Zeller and Jerebko are capable rotation players. Sign a wing in FA with the open roster spot or ship out a first rounder for PJ Tucker.
To match this offer from Pheonix,you’don’t have to start with Brown and Brooklyns pick.Smart stinks,and Crowder don’t match Warrens upside.
You’d have to start with Brown and Bk’s pick*
NOT happening and certainly not trading him within the division. IF he’s traded it will be to the eastern conference.
Why not? It’s not like the kings and suns are competing for anything right now or have a rivalry. If the kings are smart they will take the best package they are offered for him regardless of where that sends him.
Only teams in the East matching this offer is either Boston or Orlando.any offer either 1 of them make,the Suns can match with Knight.Suns are in as good a position as anyone to make this happen.
I, along with the rest of Celtics Nation, are sweating profusely.
Not sure I really get this for the Suns, but if they can do it without moving Bender, Chriss, or Booker, that would be a total steal.
What’s not to get about this for the Suns? They’re centers are Len and Chandler,Cousins is a pretty clear upgrade.Cousins and Bledsoe know eachother,and along with Booker would form a pretty strong 3 man foundation.from the angle of what can be done this season,yes,the Celtics make more sense.but from a roster point of view,Suns make more sense then Boston.
Magic?
funny how sun’s fans think they can get cousins without giving up booker or your 1st round pick when it probably would require both. Suns are not the only team that would trade for cousins, meaning other teams would outbid the garbage package of tj and len, they both average at best for a star. Any space left in that fantasy land for me???
Well booker was specially exempt from the deal in the article so he isn’t going anywhere. And then where are you seeing suns fans thinking they aren’t going to have to give up a first round pick to get cousins? As a suns fan I don’t want to give up this years first round pick but like I posted earlier I would be willing to give up both the Miami firsts and 2 of the suns firsts in top if Len, Warren, and maybe Bender
you just said you won’t give up your 1st rounder which that would probably need to be included. you guys are clueless. Booker and bledsoe are the only pieces that are interesting, it will take at least one of them. exempt or not that’s what it would cost. be realistic
I said I wouldn’t give up this years first rounder read the entire comment before you start replying to it. Bender, warren, and Len along with both Miami picks, and lets say the suns 2018 and 2020 pick. So that’s 3 young players with upside and 4 first round picks. That’s a lot to give up for just one player especially for a guy with big time locker room and emotional issues.
len and tj are only starters on a terrible team like the suns. Bender undetermined
Lens a scrub,but Warren is a legitimate 3 with upside.
Warren is a 3/4. He has to improve defensively, but I personally like him
tj is a 6th man and that’s him reaching his full potential
We have terrible team.
The “We have terrible team” comment is too funny
Booker is understandably off limits for Cousins. The Suns have enough, if they’re willing to include their pick this year and/or Chriss/Bender, to not trade Booker.
Yeah if it’s your 1st plus Miami picks and 2 young players. Just think Celtics would move J.brown, smart, and likely nets 1st for cousins which is a better package then no suns pick or no booker and bledsoe.
Suns can also eat the extra salary going their way,Celtics cant
Very true
the kings will exhaust all efforts to extend boogie before trading him. I don’t expect him to be moved before the deadline. if they can’t get an extension in the off season, open bidding will begin, and I doubt he goes as cheaply as some of these posts suggest. for all his issues, he’s a supreme talent, no discounts.
thank you. that’s what I’m saying
Tough to figure something out that doesn’t involve Bledsoe, Booker, or Chriss…Cousins, Casspi, and Afflalo for Knight, Warren, Bender, Len, 2018 Miami Heat 1st rounder, maybe another pick at some point?
Have to remember that Cousins only has another year left on his contract after this year
I heard the radio broadcast of Gambadoro today and he said that the Suns are looking for a big, and in this draft there is no really standout big man, instead this is a strong point guard draft. The Kings are looking for a really good point guard, so that draft pick could be anywhere from 3 to 7 slot. The only hangup for the Suns would be the attitude of Cousins, will he be a headache for the Suns.
Have the Suns call 6ers for their next big., We’re having a buy one get one
link to espn.com Magic +6wins
They’d just need Calipari to come coach and they’d really be Kentucky in the NBA. Boogie, Booker, Knight, Bledsoe, Ulis.
As crazy as cousins is I think he would be great on a suns roster that is all out kentucky. The kings need a pointgaurd, and the suns may get Lonzo ball this draft if they keep their pick. So how about this. Suns give both Miami picks, this year’s second round pick, next year’s second round pick, Alex Len, and Brandon Knight. Boston gives their own 2018 draft pick and Gerald Green. Suns get Demarcus Cousins and Gerald Green, Boston gets Rudy Gay. If the Rudy Gay thing is terrible scratch that, pull the extra second round pick from the suns, and keep the return just as DMC.
I mean that is a terrible deal since Rudy Gay is out for the year…
A) Boogie’s not going anywhere.
And B) if he does, it’ll take a lot more talent than the two players mentioned and the #1 pick. Like at least this year’s Miami #1 pick and another player. Then you have to get Boogie to sign an extension with Phoenix or you have only one year of him.
It’s not going to happen.
I agree with Jmgara. Why give those assets when in a year and half you can get him for nothing.
Whenever there is a Cousins rumor you have to think this through with Cousins potential extension coming up.
1) Kings and only Kings can give Cousins a $200M+ contract. This is because the CBA says it can give the “super bonus” to those that reach certain requirements on their rookie contract with the team that drafted him.
2) Cousins can only make roughly $120M signing elsewhere.
So, from Cousins perspective, would you throw away $80M? Why not just sign the extension and force a trade down the road?
As for Kings, they could get a lot more value with a guy on a 5 year deal than a guy who only has 1 year remaining on his contract.
Bottom line, a Cousins trade is not happening until at earliest he’s eligible to be traded after he signs an extension.
Cousins said he plans to sign a designated player ext – Jan 11
So the rest of this is nonsense. Nobody’s throwing away 207 million (projected)