NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 potential destinations for DeMarcus Cousins

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans speaks to DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

1. Washington Wizards

Who wouldn’t want to see the best members of the famous 2009-2010 Kentucky Wildcats team unleashed on the NBA? Though many of us have long hoped for the Wall-Cousins reunion to occur, the circumstances have never worked out. This summer represents perhaps the first legitimate chance for Boogie to join up with his former college buddy. With the Pelicans discovering their mojo with Anthony Davis playing center midway through the season, they will at least have to consider moving on from DeMarcus Cousins this summer. But even if they opt to move on from him, the Pelicans won’t want to lose him for nothing. And so, a sign and trade deal could be the ideal solution for all parties involved.

The salary machinations required to make this move happen could get tricky though; receiving Cousins via sign and trade would hard cap Washington at the spending Apron (a threshold that generally a few million dollars above the luxury tax). A package with Otto Porter as its centerpiece could get the job done. Assessing Cousins’ trade value is tough at this point. Though Porter is on an expensive deal, Cousins’ health is a total unknown. And I’m not sure that the Pelicans will be able to coax a future pick out of the Wizards in trade negotiations.

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The move would make sense for both teams though. Porter fits what the Pelicans want to do. He can play their up-tempo style and would plug the gaping rotational hole that New Orleans has on the wing. The Wizards are teetering on the edge of the luxury tax abyss and they don’t have the most promising roster moving forward. They might have to take a shot on a high risk guy like DeMarcus in order to maximize their chances at leveling the playing field with Boston and Philadelphia, the presumed top contenders of the East moving forward.

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