NBA Rumors: Five trade destinations for DeMarcus Cousins

By John Buhler | Jan 26, 2016

Jan 25, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on during overtime in the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Sleep Train Arena. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings 129-128 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) shoots over Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) as center Marcin Gortat (13) looks on during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

142. . Atlantic Division. Eastern Conference. Washington Wizards. 3. player

The thought of Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins going to the Washington Wizards in a trade is one of tremendous intrigue. Washington needs to upgrade its roster in the low post and Cousins could form a pick-and-roll partnership with another former Kentucky Wildcat in All-Star point guard John Wall.

Having Wall and Cousins on the same team would rival the Oklahoma City Thunder’s dynamic duo of point guard Russell Westbrook and small forward Kevin Durant for the best one-two punch in the NBA. Both Cousins and Wall are franchise players and are in the early part of their prime as professional athletes. The pair would make the Wizards Eastern Conference contenders for easily the next half decade.

Washington would have to send Sacramento a King’s ransom to pull this trade off, but do have the assets to make it work. The Wizards would have to send either Nene or Marcin Gortat, either Bradley Beal or Otto Porter, and probably a protected future first-round pick, since Washington won’t miss the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the foreseeable future with a team built around Cousins and Wall.

General manager Ernie Grunfeld could have his 20-22 team back in playoff contention in a matter of weeks should he be able to pry Cousins away from Sacramento with an offer Kings general manager Vlade Divac couldn’t refuse.

Another reason for the Wizards organization to try adamantly to acquire Cousins is that he and Wall could lure a better coach to DC than what they currently have in Randy Wittman. Wittman is fantastic in the postseason, especially on the road, but he may not have what it takes to get the Wizards to an Eastern Conference Finals.

Pairing Cousins with Wall may prove too much for Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari to pass up, as he would leave Lexington for the nation’s capital in a heartbeat if offered the job by Grunfeld and ownership should the Wizards move on from Wittman. This trade with the Kings would actually be better for the Wizards than trying to woo Durant to come home to DC in free agency this summer. Washington could be a beast in the East with Cousins joining Wall.

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