With the trade deadline still months away, most NBA teams are already looking to explore for deals that will make their teams better in the current 2015-2016 NBA Season and beyond.

One of the teams that might consider being active on the trade front are the Sacramento Kings, which has struggled this season but has a blue chip trade asset in franchise player DeMarcus Cousins.

The Kings still have a losing record through 31 games in the current season with a 12-19 win-loss record despite the addition of key players including Rajon Rondo, who is playing like an All-Star this season. Sacramento still has a shot at a playoff spot with other Western teams struggling but they are pegged to be a first round fodder if and when they get to qualify in the postseason.

While the Kings have stated publicly that they are not trading Cousins, the losing record could push the management to explore the trade market for the big man.

“Boogie” is one of the most temperamental players in the league but also one of the best big men in the business. Trading Cousins now will net the Kings maximum value as he has shown to be a legit franchise player.

Simply, this is Sacramento’s chance to net a player of equal value, or another franchise player or a package of potential stars, without hurting their rebuilding efforts.

Cousins has two years left in his current deal after the current season; he’ll get paid nearly $17 million for 2016-2017 and another $18 million for the 2017-2018 season. For the current season, Cousins has averages of 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

With Cousins’ high value, the Kings could also include the unfriendly contract of Rudy Gay, who is potentially owed $28M the next two years and/or Ben McLemore, who continues to disappoint in his NBA career.

Here are a couple of possible DeMarcus Cousins’ trades to various NBA teams this season (via ESPN’s Trade Machine):

Sacramento Kings-Denver Nuggets Trade: DeMarcus Cousins, Ben McLemore for the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Gary Harris plus Denver’s 2016 First Round Pick

For the Kings, they reload with more useful players at the expense of their superstar but gains more depth across the board. Faried is not a franchise player like Cousins but he will be a great fit alongside rookie centre Willie Cauley-Stein and the addition of Barton and Harris will complete the Kings’ wing rotation.

The Nuggets’ first round pick in 2016, which is projected to be a lottery pick considering how Denver is performing this season, will sweeten the deal for the Kings.

For the Nuggets, they get a franchise player in Cousins, who should be a good fit alongside young guys in point guard Emmanuel Mudiay and forward Danilo Galinari. The change in scenery could also be what Cousins need to up his game to another level.

Sacramento Kings- Los Angeles Lakers Trade: DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay for the Los Angeles Lakers' Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert, DeAngelo Russell and Julius Randle.

For the Kings, they restart their rebuilding process with two new top prospects in Russell and Randle. Russell is the insurance if Rajon Rondo bolts after the current season and is the better long-term fit with rookie centre Willie Cauley-Stein. Randle’s game should also complement the big man and all three are 21 years old or below so they will all be hitting their primes at about the same time.

Unloading Gay’s contract is also a nice plus to their reloading efforts and getting Hibbert won’t hurt in the long-term as the big man is just on a one-year deal.

For the Lakers, they get a franchise centre in Cousins, whom they build around in the coming seasons. With a high pick in 2016 and the continued growth of point guard Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles can afford to give up Russell.

Will the Kings trade their franchise center this season? Or will they continue to roll the dice with the big man?

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