NBA Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins To The Boston Celtics?
The Boston Celtics have been interested in DeMarcus Cousins for a long time, and they may now have a window of opportunity to acquire the Sacramento Kings’ star center.
The Inquisitr has reported a potential deal to send Cousins to the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, but according to the Morning Ledger, Cousins prefers to go to the Boston Celtics. Given the glut of big men on Sacramento’s roster, and Boston’s long-held fascination with the talented six-foot-11 center, a possible deal between the two teams appears to make sense.
CSN New England has spoken to Celtics’ president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, and he certainly indicated that Boston is interested in making more big moves after signing Al Horford as a free agent from Atlanta.
What do #Celtics mean by 'a stronger center?' Could they be talking about DeMarcus Cousins? https://t.co/2LahKButkT
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 8, 2016
“We are still looking at doing deals and we’re certainly not finished for the summer,” Ainge said.
Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck weighed in on the matter as well, perhaps giving hints that the team has already begun to pursue a trade for DeMarcus Cousins, a two-time NBA All-Star, who has earned a reputation as a “difficult player” during his years in the NBA.
“We were just talking about a trade earlier today where the asking price from the other team was for a difficult player, and I’m not going to say who, but it’s dropped pretty significantly since draft night,” Grousbeck said earlier this week.
Boston was reportedly pursuing a deal for Cousins in the days leading up to the 2016 NBA Draft, so it seems likely that he is in fact the unnamed player Grousbeck is referring to.
Once Boston signed forward/center Al Horford to a free agent contract worth $113 million over four years, team management realized that bringing in a top-flight player such as Horford could be the first domino to fall in a series of significant moves for the team. Danny Ainge has never been shy about pulling the trigger on major trades or signings, and he’s clearly planning to add to the talent currently on the Celtics’ roster.
Ainge and the Celtics have been busy trying to further capitalize on the Horford signing, per Larry Brown Sports. They have been linked to Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, 76ers big men Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as DeMarcus Cousins. It appears that Ainge is intent on stockpiling talent this summer, and given his track record, he can probably do just that.
DeMarcus Cousins is an exceptional talent, but he has earned a reputation as an immature, problem-causing player all the way back to his college days as a Kentucky Wildcat. Acquiring Cousins would be a risk for the Celtics, or any other team for that matter. However, his dominance on the basketball court makes him an enticing addition, despite the baggage he comes with.
Sac Bee's Ailene Voisin: Kings should dump head case DeMarcus Cousins this summer https://t.co/UqRFwnFMwj
— Steve Bitker (@SteveBitker) March 13, 2016
Cousins entered the NBA as the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, taken by the Sacramento Kings. He has been productive from his rookie season on, compiling huge numbers as the Kings’ starting center. In 2015-16, Cousins posted averages of 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He even shot a very respectable 33.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc last year, adding shooting range to his commanding inside game.
DeMarcus Cousins and the Boston Celtics seem to be a fit. Cousins reportedly wants to be a Celtic, the Celtics are interesting in trading for him, and Sacramento seems willing to explore deals for their mercurial center.
Do you think Boston should go “all in” to make a move for Cousins, or would the Celtics be better off letting someone else roll the dice on him?
[Photo by Doug McSchooler/AP Images]
