Rudy Gay‘s recent decision to leave the Sacramento Kings after next season should be a hint for DeMarcus Cousins that he should do the same.
Earlier this week it was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical the Rudy Gay had no intentions on returning to the Sacramento Kings for the 2017-2018 season.
Gay has informed the front office for the team that he will use his player option for the 2017-18 season to become an unrestricted free agent. The forward has a $14.3 million player option for next season and will make $13.3 million this season.
Gay has reportedly told management that he does not believe he is in a winning situation with the Kings. Last season, he averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
This disbelief in a winning environment should be echoed by DeMarcus Cousins when he hits free agency in 2018. It wouldn’t be wise for Cousins to stay there for a longer than he has to. Rudy Gay’s decision should be a sign for Cousins to consider leaving when he can. The Kings have not made the postseason since 2006 and will likely not make it this season.
Last season the Kings had a record of 33-49 and ranked 10th in the West. The team’s defense is very poor as they had defensive rating of 106.3 last season, ranking them 22nd in defensive efficiency.
The Kings have gone through eight different coaches since firing Rick Adelman at the end of the 2005-06 season. The team recently hired David Joerger (who was fired from the Memphis Grizzlies) after firing legendary coach George Karl. There had been constant bickering between Karl and DeMarcus Cousins. They never had a healthy relationship. Now, the team has had nine different coaches in nine years.
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Not only are there problems with the coaching of the team, but their management is equally (if not more) chaotic. The Kings’ general manager and vice president of basketball operations Valde Divak has created tension in the three years he has been with the team.
In addition to firing George Karl, Divak also fired assistant coach Vance Walberg. He also created tension with assistant coach Nancy Lieberman. Vavek Ranadive, the team’s majority owner, has contributed to the team’s issues.
Thus, the Sacramento Kings franchise is probably one of the worst places to be. It’s an unappealing situation that is worth leaving. Sacramento is clearly not a winning environment and they have not made the best changes to enhance their situation. Even Rondo, who is known for bringing tension to team, noticed the dysfunction of the Kings.
"“There were too many distractions on and off the court. The organization as a whole, I don’t think was together completely. I think as a team you have to want the best for the next man beside you, and that wasn’t the case with the Sacramento Kings”, said Rondo in an interview with Rachel Nichols on ESPN’s The Jump."
He later mentioned how there were hardly any players regularly attended optional shootarounds and that there was too much tension surrounding the organization.
If both Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo have noticed this dysfunction and have left or will leave the Kings, then why is Cousins staying? Cousins is simply too talented to let his career be tainted by the downfall and chaos the Sacramento Kings franchise.
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Cousins has no choice but to leave the Kings if he wants to be a winner. Although Cousins does not become a free agent until 2018, now (more than ever) is the time for him to consider leaving the Kings.