DeMarcus Cousins set to sign massive extension with Sacramento Kings

DeMarcus Cousins, widely regarded as the best centre in the NBA, is set to sign a massive contract extension with the Sacramento Kings this coming offseason, per several reports.

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Kings are eligible to sign Cousins to a six-year maximum contract that could exceed the sum of $US250 million ($AU334 million) while free agent suitors will be in a position to offer the All-Star big man a four-year contract in the range of $US150 million ($AU201 million).

The new CBA also allows the Kings to use the designated player exception which makes Cousins eligible to add five years on top of his existing contract, which expires at the end of the 2017-18 season (Player Option for 2018-19 season). If Cousins and Kings can come to terms on an extension, Boogie could stay in Sacramento through the 2022-23 NBA season.

According to CSN California, Cousins' representatives and the Kings front office have been discussing a possible contract extension estimated at roughly US$207 million (AU$277 million). Going by those reported numbers, it appears as if the Kings and Cousins have been discussing a five-year extension instead of a potential six-year deal.

DeMarcus Cousins trade ruled out, Kings keen to invest in star big man

For several years, the Kings and Cousins have had several run-ins which resulted in the Western Conference team firing as many as five coaches since the Kentucky product arrived in the NBA in 2010. There were even a few instances of Cousins reportedly demanding a trade but the Kings have managed to convince the big man to stay put in Sacramento.

Last week, ESPN's Mark Stein first reported that the Kings want to invest in Cousins as their franchise player despite failing to make the postseason since drafting the centre six years back. "Sources say that the Kings, at season's end, want to pitch Cousins on a long-term partnership in the summertime, knowing he's going to be eligible in July for a Designated Player Extension that ‎could make him one of a handful of $200 million players league wide."

Since Cousins will be an eligible designated player, he is in position to make 35 percent of the team's salary cap which is reportedly set at approximately US$102 million (AU$136 million) for the 2016-17 season. Under the previous CBA, Cousins was eligible for only 30 percent of the cap until he finished 10 seasons in the league.

DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings have to wait until July 1 to make a deal happen. The All-Star centre is averaging a career-high tally of 28.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists this season.