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NBA Trade Rumors: Stars Whose Names Are Surfacing

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) talks with Rockets guard Ty Lawson (3) against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Rockets won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) talks with Rockets guard Ty Lawson (3) against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Rockets won 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) questions a call in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) questions a call in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Position: Power Forward, Center
Age: 25
Slash Line: .422/.301/.746
Season Averages: 33.3 MPG, 25.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.4 ORPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.2 3PM

The Sacramento Kings are 1.5 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. At the heart of their postseason aspirations is All-NBA big man DeMarcus Cousins.

The question is, how long will Cousins be in town for?

Cousins’ statistics are impossible to overlook, but they haven’t translated to the Kings escaping the bottom half of the NBA. Since drafting the former Kentucky Wildcats star in 2010, Sacramento has won no more than 29 games in a season.

According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, three contenders have expressed interest in attempting to help Cousins win.

"Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins has drawn significant trade interest from the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, league sources tell SheridanHoops. Sacramento is listening, but the Kings are in a holding pattern and currently have no plans to make a deal despite sitting in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference, the sources said."

It’ll be tough to pry Cousins from the Kings, but multiple teams will be trying.

It’s hardly surprising to hear of the interest in Cousins’ potential availability. He’s a dynamic center who, at 25 years old, is one of the most statistically dominant players in the NBA.

Cousins is averaging 25.2 points and 10.7 rebounds, which is as impressive as it sounds. According to Basketball-Reference.com, no player has averaged at least 25 points and 10 rebounds since Kevin Love in 2011-12 and 2013-14, and Shaquille O’Neal in 2002-03.

Cousins’ numbers are superb, but one can’t help but wonder how limited his ceiling is in Sacramento.

Next: Still a Superstar?