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Could the Phoenix Suns Get In The Boogie Sweepstakes?

By Michael Dunlap

April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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DeMarcus Cousins has been the subject of NBA trade rumors (though the George Karl/Vivek Ranadive posturing makes us wonder if it will ever happen) and there’s 29 other teams foaming at the mouth with the idea of having one of the most multi-talented young centers in the NBA. Should the Phoenix Suns dip their toes in the water and see what they can put together?

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IF YOU CAN’T BEAT HIM…

We’ll come back to Boogie’s overall skillset in a minute — first let’s take a look at Cousins and how he’s thoroughly dominated the Suns over the years. In 16 career games against the Suns, Cousins is averaging 22.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals. The Kings are 9-7 in those games but more notably — they’ve won seven of the last eight.

The Suns have struggled defending centers in the past with Alex Len, Miles Plumlee, Marcin Gortat, Jermaine O’Neal and Robin Lopez taking the brunt of the Boogie blow over the last four seasons. He’s posted a double-double in the last nine contests against the Suns and has pulled down double-digit rebounds in 12 straight games (he’s never secured less than seven against them).

I know buzzer-beaters are a sore subject around here, so I’ll warn you: NSFSF (Not Suitable For Suns Fans)

OVERALL RESUME

Cousins stands 6-foot-11 and weighs in at a svelte 270 pounds (according to Kings.com). Out of the University of Kentucky, the 24-year-old has to be considered one of the five best centers in all of basketball. Unfortunately, he’s been stuck in California purgatory and hasn’t had a chance to play on a winning team in his career. In games Cousins has appeared in over his five-year career, the Kings are 120-230 (.342).

With that said, Cousins has refined his game each year and has not only become a force on the glass (12.7 per game in 2014-15, career high) but he’s also just set per-game career highs in points (24.1), assists (3.6), steals (1.5 — tied), blocks (1.7) and foul shooting (.782). The naysayers will point to his career highs in turnovers (4.3) and fouls (4.1 — tied).

April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts during the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Cousins made his first all-star team in 2014-15, scoring 14 points with seven rebounds in 18 minutes. He’s coming off of his first appearance on the All-NBA team (second) and won the NBA’s Player of the Week award for the second time of his career, early in the 2014-15 season.

Despite the Kings’ paltry 29-53 record, the Kings were a plus-0.9 per 100 possessions with Cousins on the floor — the first time in his career he’s achieved that.

Cousins finished the 2014-15 season on an absolute tear as well — averaging 27.9 points, 15.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 2.3 blocks in the last 10 games he played.

THE TRADE

Here’s where it gets tricky. It’s not like the Suns are so chock-full of talent that they can just flip a switch and Boogie is theirs.

Cousins is on a really friendly contract — owed approximately $47.1 million over the next three years — and with the big increase in the salary cap, it provides a great chance for a team to get Boogie cheap then spend heavy to take a serious run at the NBA Championship. Whether Robert Sarver and Ryan McDonough are willing to do that is a different story for a different day.

Realistically, the Suns greatest assets are Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Alex Len and T.J. Warren (maybe Markieff Morris but you’re likely taking Marcus Morris in that deal).

The Suns are also lacking one major key here — an expiring contract to help make the numbers work. This trade works, but would either side feel better about their team?

WARNING: I HATE THIS TRADE AS DOES EVERYONE ELSE

The Suns could sweeten the deal by adding  T.J. Warren, but I just think both sides would be left feeling unhappy.

Should the Suns go after Boogie? Yeah, it would be great — it’s just too bad there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that they can put together a package good enough (while keeping Bledsoe) to get it done.

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