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Lakers Trade Rumors: Stars To Target If Moving NBA Draft Pick

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) meets with Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) before the start of their game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) meets with Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) before the start of their game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Lakers 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) during an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Lakers 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Position: Center
Age: 25 (8/13/1990)
2016-17 Salary: $16,957,900
Slash Line: .451/.333/.718
Season Averages: 34.6 MPG, 26.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.4 ORPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.1 3PM

Strictly discussing his skill set, there isn’t an area in which DeMarcus Cousins is less than above-average. He finished the 2015-16 season in the Top 5 in scoring and rebounding, and ranked No. 1 amongst centers in steals, No. 2 in assists and 3-point field goals made, and No. 12 in blocks on a per game basis.

According to Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee, Cousins’ production isn’t enough to keep him off of the trading block.

"A year ago, Cousins was untouchable. A year later, the sense within the organization is Divac is tempted by the prospect of pairing his center with his personally selected coach but that he has become increasingly frustrated by his center’s ongoing issues and, for the first time, is willing to test the market for the two-time All-Star."

Cousins has yet to make a postseason appearance with the Sacramento Kings, and that alone is reason for general manager Vlade Divac to weigh his options. Cousins has also been viewed as a player who can rub his coaches and teammates the wrong way.

If head coach Luke Walton believes he can get the most out of Cousins, it simply wouldn’t make sense to not consider this golden opportunity.

Cousins is, arguably, the best center in the NBA based on talent and production alone. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Cousins’s 2015-16 campaign saw him become the first player to average at least 25.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 block since Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon did it in 1993-94.

Aside from Cousins, Malone, and Olajuwon, only two other players have achieved those statistics: David Robinson in 1990-91 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1977-78.

Next: Mutual Interest?

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