Fansided

5 reasons Sacramento Kings should trade for Ricky Rubio

By John Buhler

Mar 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call with the referee during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call with the referee during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

5. DeMarcus Cousins

Dysfunction is the appropriate word to define the current era of Kings basketball. Its star player in All-NBA center and Team USA Olympian DeMarcus Cousins has been labeled as a disgruntled superstar that can’t seem to have the same head coach for more than a year.

The only coach he seemed to have a rapport with was Michael Malone. Owner Vivek Ranadive wanted to run an up-tempo offense to Cousins’ dismay and canned the only quality coach he’s had since John Calipari in his one year at the University of Kentucky.

Though new head coach Dave Joerger will likely employ a slower paced offense much like he did as the head coach of the Grit-N-Grind Memphis Grizzlies, what will really help Cousins feel better about his situation in Sacramento is to have a point guard that will love nothing more than to feed him the rock.

Like Rondo, Rubio would prefer to pass than to shoot at point guard. Neither has a great jump shot and Cousins is sneaky-good from distance as a stretch-5. He might even be the best center in the NBA if he gets his mind right.

Rubio is a great teammate and will certainly put out the many fires that frustrate Cousins in a chaotic Kings organization. As it was with Rondo, Rubio will let the offense run through Cousins and lubricate the Kings offensively. Unlike Rondo, Rubio doesn’t come with the perpetual headaches of working with a genius/basketball savant.

Cousins has two years left on his deal with the Kings. Unless general manager Vlade Divac can get him a serviceable point guard that doesn’t wear people out, Cousins will leave Northern California in 2018 NBA free agency. Where would that leave Kings basketball? Rubio could be both a short-term salve and a long-term solution in the Kings’ quagmire of a locker room.

Next: 4. Rudy Gay

Home/NBA Trade Rumors