DeMarcus Cousins, the mercurial center of the Sacramento Kings, is reportedly still on the chopping block with only barely two months to go before the NBA trade deadline next month.
Rumors are heavy that he could be replaced by Los Angeles Lakers' rising guard Jordan Clarkson. Although Clarkson has emerged as the Los Angeles Lakers' best player to date, his expiring $1.4 million contract would be too good for the team to pass up as trade bait.
According to Bleacher Report, Jordan Clarkson will get paid after the season, which would probably max out at $10 million per year.
The Los Angeles Lakers could easily match what other teams will offer before the NBA trade deadline when it comes to their best player, especially with the retiring Kobe Bryant off the books. But if the rumors of DeMarcus Cousins being available are true, that kind of generational talent is just too tasty to overlook.
DeMarcus Cousins has always been in the thick of the NBA trade rumors, even if the Sacramento Kings management and coaching staff denied otherwise, not because of his talent but because of his perceived attitude off and on the court.
The Sacramento Kings plunged to a season-low when they were defeated by the lowly Philadelphia Sixers prompting George Karl to question the team's heart in an interview with The Sacramento Bee.
"I told the team inconsistent intensity, inconsistent focus, inconsistent toughness and mental discipline," he said. "Too many times we've come out on this court and been the quiet team, or the soft team or the cool team and not the man team."
George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins were said to be fighting before when the 6-11 center found his name linked to NBA trade rumors, courtesy of the coach. Whether or not the Sacramento Kings will pull the trigger on the alleged deal with the Los Angeles Lakers is still up in the air.
