5 Best Potential Trades For DeMarcus Cousins
By Sai Mohan
Utah Jazz
View in ESPN Trade Machine.
The Utah Jazz ought to be happy with the frontcourt duo of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. Both are excellent rim protectors and Favors has added more than a few moves to his offensive repertoire.
Last season, Favors averaged an impressive 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He finished top-20 in blocks per game, Player Efficiency Rating, block percentage, defensive rating and Defensive Box Plus-Minus.
Advanced stats and metrics love Favors. But those who’ve watched him consistently know that Favors is not the kind of player who can dominate opponents night after night.
Why the Kings do it: Seeing as Favors is a 25-year-old about to enter his prime, it would be a great investment for Sacramento. Also, the former Georgia Tech standout has two years left on his contract.
Dante Exum’s young career has been derailed by injuries. Maybe the Australian can use a fresh start in Sacramento, a team that is desperate for a young point guard to play behind Darren Collison.
Why the Jazz do it: To thrive in the taxing Western Conference, the Jazz need an alpha male who can put up the big numbers. The Jazz have all the fundamentals covered on the defensive end, but they could use a big-time scorer like Cousins.
Cousins would be joining borderline All-Star Gordon Hayward on a team that acquired seasoned veterans such as Boris Diaw (via trade) and Joe Johnson this summer. Also, Rodney Hood showed signs of being a future All-Star last season, averaging 14.5 points per game as the starting shooting guard.
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