The Chicago Bulls have already had a great summer, but could they also be looking to acquire DeMarcus Cousins?
In a turn of events that probably not many saw coming, most would argue the Chicago Bulls have had a great offseason so far.
First, they took Jimmy Butler off of the trading block, a move that would have been bone-headed to say the least.
While it seems as though many in the organization were growing tired of the star’s insistence of being the team leader and the ego that subsequently came along with that, Butler is surely set to become the new face of the franchise.
Letting go of such a key piece of the puzzle would most definitely have set the Bulls back.
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Then, they were able to trade Derrick Rose off to the New York Knicks. And while not everyone was thrilled about this decision, it seems as though at that point, the former hometown hero was only hurting the team.
Both Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol found greener pastures elsewhere, another change that fans may be upset over, but will ultimately help Chicago find more success moving forward. Not only in terms of production on the floor, but also by keeping drama out of the locker room.
Rajon Rondo came aboard, perhaps bringing some hot-headed temperament to the table, but more importantly some top-level ball-handling. And of course, a big name, which the Bulls have found themselves missing out on for the last couple of years.
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But greatest of all of course, was that the organization landed Dwyane Wade. What exactly drew him in and away from the Miami Heat is still anyone’s guess, but the addition of a league legend certainly was the cherry on top of an already delicious summer-baked cake for Chicago.
And oh yeah, the team won the Summer League championship.
But what if Chicago has one more surprise up its sleeve?
Say, like acquiring DeMarcus Cousins?
Lately, the rumor mill has been swirling with the idea of Cousins joining former teammate and best friend Rondo, on the Bulls.
Is it a stretch? Probably. But it is not impossible.
It is no secret that Cousins is not a happy camper in Sacramento. Since joining the Kings in 2010 when he was drafted No. 5 overall, his NBA journey has been…interesting.
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Having earned a “bad boy” reputation for his on-court antics and off-court disagreements with teammates and even numerous head coaches, his talent has unfortunately been overlooked by his behavior. And although it is on him to fix that moving forward, a change of scenery could not hurt either.
Since losing Noah, Chicago has tried to fill the void with Robin Lopez. But the organization can do better. Last season, Cousins averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.6 steals a game, on 34.6 minutes of play.
He made the NBA All-Star Game for the second year in a row. And he also broke a handful of records, such as Chris Webber‘s franchise scoring record of 51 points in a game, with 56 points.
Would bringing on Cousins be a gamble? Sure. But it seems as though it would also be worth the risk.
Plus, it has already been proven that he works well alongside Rondo. And currently, the big man is a part of Team USA with Butler. Additionally, there should be no reason why he and Wade would not be a good fit either.
So how could the Bulls make this dream a reality?
Well, the Kings are constantly looking for young talent to develop. And between guys like Bobby Portis, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic and even rookie Denzel Valentine … the front office should have more than enough options to entice Sacramento with.
Chicago is obviously looking to make a splash in the Eastern Conference this upcoming year, and so far, they have done a good job of putting themselves in a position to do so.
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However, getting Cousins would certainly seal the deal, and turn a previously hopeless organization into a title contender.