5 Best Potential Trades For DeMarcus Cousins
By Sai Mohan
Denver Nuggets
View in ESPN Trade Machine.
Michael Malone, current coach of the Denver Nuggets, is perhaps the only head coach that enjoyed a relatively harmonious working relationship with Cousins during his stint with the Kings in 2013-14.
According to Mile High Sports’ Sean Walsh, Cousins and the Nuggets would be a good fit due to the center’s past relationship with Malone:
"“If Cousins would fit in anywhere, it would be in Denver. He would get to play with a fellow Kentucky alumnus in Murray and also be reunited with the one head coach he enjoyed playing for in the NBA, Michael Malone. The Nuggets could add an All-Star and Cousins could get a chance to start anew.”"
Why Nuggets do it: Denver is seemingly set with Nikola Jokic as a starter for next season. Jusuf Nurkic, another promising international big, averaged only 17 minutes per game last season due to Denver’s crowded frontcourt. By getting rid of Kenneth Faried and Nurkic for Cousins, Denver would clear the decks for a potentially exciting frontcourt duo of Cousins and Jokic.
They would be forced to throw in either Will Barton or Gary Harris to sweeten the deal since neither Faried or Nurkic are All-Star caliber big men like Cousins.
Related Story: Denver Nuggets: 2016 Offseason Grades
Why Kings do it: Faried and Nurkic are contracted for another two years each. Barton, one of the candidates to win Most Improved Player last season, would be a welcome addition, especially if Kings find a taker for Rudy Gay. Barton averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds a game last season.
In Cauley-Stein, Faried, Nurkic, Papagiannis and Labissière, Kings would have assembled an exciting young arsenal of big men.
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