5 trades the Boston Celtics should explore
By Roje Smith
1. DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings
Despite what he tries to tell the media, DeMarcus Cousins is not a happy man playing for the Sacramento Kings. The team doesn’t seem to be serious about surrounding him with the right supporting players to succeed.
Although the Kings are currently holding on to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, it’s unlikely that they will play in the postseason. It’s more likely that the Portland Trail Blazers figure things out from their early season woes and end up with that final spot. As a result, it may benefit the Kings to press the reset button by trading DeMarcus and the Celtics can be an ideal trade partner for them.
Cousins is arguably the best big man in the league right now and does everything for the Kings. His averages of 29.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game are the definition of elite. He is the type of player that could give Boston a vicious trio reminiscent of when they had Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008. It’s an exciting scenario for Boston fans to dream about, but everyone knows that his asking price won’t be cheap.
One way that Cousins could end up in Boston is through a six-player deal. The Kings would give up Cousins and another unhappy player in Arron Afflalo in exchange for Avery Bradley, Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerekbo and Kelly Olynyk. Boston will most likely need to include one or two first round draft picks in this deal as well. It’s a steep price to pay for a player, but he may be worth it.
If Cousins can put up his current numbers while being unhappy, imagine what he can do in a more positive situation. It’s possible that we would see an entirely new level to his game. As for Sacramento, they will be able to rebuild without any distractions from a disgruntled superstar.
Next: NBA: 2000s All-Decade First Team
It may seem crazy, but it’s a win-win situation for both teams. As long as the Kings don’t require Boston to send their entire team to Sacramento, a trade for Cousins is something that the Celtics would be foolish not explore.