Three reasons the Kings are better off without DeMarcus Cousins
By David Rouben
Sacramento Kings fans — if there are still any left — may be hurting that DeMarcus Cousins is gone, but here’s why they’re better off without him.
Only in the NBA will you find someone play two minutes of an All-Star Game because they were too busy getting traded. That DeMarcus Cousins is now a member of the New Orleans Pelicans is even more convenient, because he doesn’t have to pack his bags and leave. And if his reaction to finding out he got dealt is any indication, he’ll take to his new surroundings very well.
Twitter was roasting the Sacramento Kings, and rightfully so, for getting so little back in return for a franchise player and a three-time All-Star. But given that the Kings are in a constant rebuilding state, it’s better for them to actually tear down this core rather than be stagnant and waste some of Boogie’s best years.
It may not seem like it now, but better days are ahead now that the Kings are free of DeMarcus Cousins. Here are three reasons why.
3. No more inconsistent defense
The Kings are currently ranked 24th in defensive efficiency. That’s not entirely because of Cousins, but he isn’t helping their cause. If there’s one thing about Boogie’s game that is maddeningly inconsistent, it’s his defense. It may not matter when he can get you 50 points in a game, but on nights when he’s cold, it can be pretty glaring.
The numbers suggest that he’s an inconsistent defender. He has a Defensive Box Plus-Minus of 2.6, largely a product of his rebounding. But according to NBA.com, opponents shoot better than 50 percent against him at the rim, and 62.1 percent from less than six feet out.
He also tends to fall on bad habits, such as constantly fouling, which is why he’s so prone to getting ejected. Take that phantom foul on Dwyane Wade earlier this season. It was a bogus call, no doubt, but are we really surprised that the refs made it?
The Kings won’t magically turn into this great defensive team now that Cousins is gone. In fact, they’re almost certainly bound to take a step back. But shipping out Cousins does address one of the issues they had on the defensive side, and it should shift their focus towards finding a more suitable rim protector.