NBA Rumors: Five trade destinations for DeMarcus Cousins

Nov 15, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) moves in against Toronto Raptors forward Bismack Biyombo (8) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 107-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

What are DeMarcus Cousins’ feeling about playing in Canada? Does he like the cold?

Winning is a panacea and the Toronto Raptors are doing a better job of that than most teams in the Eastern Conference in 2015-16.

Toronto is in second place in the Eastern Conference at 29-15 and will almost certainly win the Atlantic Division for the third straight season. At this point in the NBA season, the Raptors are very much a lock to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The NBA Playoffs have never featured Cousins before, as he has spent his entire NBA career with the Sacramento Kings.

What makes Toronto a viable trade partner for Sacramento is that the Raptors are desperate to advance in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and general manager Masai Ujiri would be willing to give up a great deal to ensure that his Raptors make it to at worst the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2016.

Not getting out of the first round would be the end in Toronto for head coach Dwane Casey and Ujiri would absolutely be on the hot seat. Toronto is too good for another first-round playoff exit in 2016.

Toronto wouldn’t have to give up either of its All-Star caliber players to acquire Cousins in a trade with Sacramento. The Raptors could keep point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan to play alongside Cousins for the rest of the season. DeRozan may leave Toronto via free agency to return to his native Califonia, so a Lowry/Cousins combination would stand as strong building blocks for the Raptors in 2016-17.

The tricky part is what would Toronto have to send Sacramento’s way to pull off the deal. A future first round pick without question is part of any trade scenario involving Cousins. Perhaps Ujiri can convince Divac that center Jonas Valanciunas still has significant value. Sacramento could ask for small forward DeMarre Carroll for his three-and-d abilities, as the Kings need help in both regards for coach Karl.

Cousins would stand as the biggest star in Toronto since Vince Carter. He would become a bigger superstar in Canada than anyone on the Maple Leafs or the Blue Jays. Sacramento will need at least a first-round pick and either Carroll and Valanciunas to even consider a deal with Toronto. However, since Toronto has to make it to the second round, the Kings could use that to their advantage if they chose to listen to the Raptors’ offers for Cousins.

Next: 4. Charlotte Hornets