Reports: Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans
The Kings have traded DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Wojnarowski reports the Pelicans will send rookie guard Buddy Hield (last year‘s first-round selection), guard Tyreke Evans, a "mildly" protected 2017 first-round pick and Philadelphia’s 2017 second-round pick to Sacramento in the deal. Guard Langston Galloway will also go to Sacramento, and is expected to be waived.
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that the included picks may be for future drafts. Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders first reported that Sacramento will also send forward Omri Casspi to the Pelicans.
Wojnarowski reportede that Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé has waffled in his desire to make a long-term financial commitment to Cousins, who will be up for a maximum extension this off-season. Later Sunday, Wojnarowski added the Kings remained engaged in trade talks with multiple teams, and have told at least one interested team that they have a better offer on the table.
The Kings also engaged with the Lakers on Sunday, according to Wojnarowski and ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Wojnarowski reported the Lakers refused to include 2016 No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram.
Cousins’s agent spoke to ESPN’s Marc Stein and called it “unlikely” that Cousins would re-sign with a team that traded for him this summer. He will not be an unrestricted free agent until the 2017–18 season, and the team that acquires him will retain his bird rights and can still offer him a max deal at that point.
Cousins played just two minutes in Sunday night’s All-Star Game in New Orleans. USA Today’s Sam Amick reported Cousins asked the coaching staff not to play much, citing nagging injuries.
Cousins, 26, remains the NBA’s preeminent low post scorer, averaging 27.8 points and 10.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season. His name has frequently come up in trade talks over the past few seasons.
- Jeremy Woo
