DeMarcus Cousins trade talks heat up, Kings discussing offers with Pelicans and other teams

The Sacramento Kings (24-33) have engaged in discussions with the New Orleans Pelicans (23-34) among other teams regarding a potential DeMarcus Cousins trade, per fresh reports. The Kings front office is reportedly entertaining offers for Cousins during the ongoing All-Star Weekend ahead of Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline.

According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski (see tweets below), the Kings management is still debating Cousins' future internally. The report noted that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is hesitant to ink Cousins to a five-year super max contract that the All-Star centre would be eligible to sign during the summer. Per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Cousins stands to sign a five-year "designated player" max contract worth approximately $US213 million ($AU277 million). The talented big man has reiterated that he'd prefer staying put in Sacramento.

“We met with Vlade (Divac) and ownership and they assured us and DeMarcus (Cousins) that he’s not being traded. As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed," Jarinn Akana, the agent of Cousins, told The Vertical Sunday night. The report added that Cousins would stand to make 30 percent of the salary cap instead of the 35 percent that he stands to make with the Kings. "The loss of the Designated Player Veteran Exception for Cousins in a trade would cost him approximately US$30 million (AU$39 million) over the length of his contract. If he is traded, he would lose eligibility to earn 35 percent of the salary cap, becoming eligible for 30 percent."

DeMarcus Cousins trade: Could it finally be happening?

The DeMarcus Cousins trade saga has dominated the rumour mill over the last three years, especially during February's deadline period. According to NBC Sports, the Kings were forced to fire former coach George Karl, who was determined to trade Cousins ahead of last year's NBA Trade Deadline. "The Kings were frustrated when former coach George Karl was insistent on moving him (Cousins), and they dismissed interest from both the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers."

The team that acquires Cousins via trade would own the star big man's Bird Rights, putting themselves in a position to out-bird interested suitors if the All-Star were to entertaining free agency in the summer of 2018. However, early signs point to Cousins preferring to sign a max contraction this forthcoming offseason rather than waiting another year. Therefore, the team that he gets traded to could be his home for at least another five seasons.

The potential DeMarcus Cousins trade has the potential to shake up the NBA, especially if a top-3 seed such as Boston Celtics manages to land him. As NBC Sports rightfully points out, the trade could do wonders to both Cousins and Kings, who could start afresh after a lengthy postseason draught. In fact, the Kings haven't made the playoffs in eleven seasons. "Whatever the outcome, if Cousins gets traded by the Feb. 23 deadline it will go down as one of the biggest mid-season moves this season. It’s going to be hard for Sacramento to move on from a franchise player like Boogie, but perhaps it’s time to look for a different path. For Cousins, a breath of fresh air and a little help might put his career in a new perspective as well."

DeMarcus Cousins is averaging a career-best tally of 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks this season. Besides making his third All-Star team, "Boogie" is expected to make another All-NBA team at the end of the regular season. Stay tuned for the latest news and updates on the potential DeMarcus Cousins trade, besides the NBA Trade Deadline.