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NBA Trade Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins To Cavs, Kevin Love To Kings

Published on: August 9, 2016 at 5:12 PM
By Adrian Lawhorn

NBA trade rumors that the Cleveland Cavaliers are working to acquire DeMarcus Cousins simply won’t die. There were previous reports of a potential three-way trade involving the Phoenix Suns, but the latest talk is that the Cavs and the Sacramento Kings are discussing a possible deal between the two teams.

According to Sportsrageous , Cleveland has resumed their interest in Cousins , and they are putting together a trade package that would feature forward Kevin Love . The worst-kept secret in basketball this summer has been that both Love and Cousins have been the subject of various NBA trade rumors, and now it appears they may be dealt for one another.

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Now that the Golden State Warriors have added superstar Kevin Durant to a team that just posted the best regular season record in NBA history, the Cavs are looking for ways to keep up, even though they are the defending NBA Champions. Cleveland could use an upgrade at the center position, and word is that they are targeting DeMarcus Cousins to accomplish that goal.

Cousins has played center his entire NBA career, but he has the athleticism to play power forward, if needed. Tristan Thompson could be used interchangeably at the power forward and center positions for Cleveland, giving the Cavaliers increased flexibility and a great deal more firepower in their front line.

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The Kings are coming off a disastrous season in 2015-16, and they are trying to rebuild after losing point guard Rajon Rondo to the Chicago Bulls in free agency, as reported by Clutch Points . The team has already begun to retool, signing Arron Afflalo, Garrett Temple, Matt Barnes, and Anthony Tolliver as free agents this offseason. While very talented, DeMarcus Cousins has caused Sacramento numerous headaches during his six years with the team, and it seems that the Kings are prepared to move on from their enigmatic center.

The Sacramento Kings are not nearly as talented as the Cavs, and Kevin Love would take on a larger role if dealt to the Kings. Love is still in his prime as a player (27 years of age), and showed during his years with the Timberwolves that he is a double-double machine when given the opportunity to shine.

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DeMarcus Cousins was taken No. 5 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Cousins could have gone even higher if not for the reputation he had gained in college as a player with motivation and attitude problems. One thing that has never been questioned, however, is his talent and skill on the basketball court. Cousins has been highly productive as a pro, boasting career averages of 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. The 2015-16 season may have been his best yet, as he earned his second NBA All-Star berth by posting per-game averages of 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds for Sacramento.

Kevin Love was also chosen fifth overall in his draft year of 2008. He was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the day of the 2008 NBA Draft. While his teams in Minnesota never found much success, Love put up huge individual numbers for the Timberwolves. He scored 26.1 points per game in 2013-14, and led the NBA in rebounding in 2010-11 with a stellar 15.2 rebounds per contest average. Even as a six-foot-ten power forward, Love also shoots well from distance, hitting 36.3 percent of his career three-point attempts.

NBA trade rumors have been focusing on the Cavaliers and the Kings all summer long — specifically DeMarcus Cousins and Kevin Love. Do you think Cleveland’s persistent interest in Cousins will allow them to add the six-foot-eleven, 270-pounder to their 2016-17 roster?

[Photo by Tony Gutierrez/AP Images]

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