Cousins max deal or trade?

#2
Considering how much big men get in the league, it's not a shocker his agent is asking for a max contract. Personally, I'm ok giving him a max deal, but I gess Vivek and co. want to see how he plays and behaves this season.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#3
When he signed with Fegan that was going to be an obvious outcome. And given the state of NBA bigs, its not really a question anyway.

This was the only mention in that article about it:

Cousins is eligible for a contract extension this summer, and Fegan wants a maximum deal for his client with the threat of a trade demand looming if a deal isn't reached.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/19/5510131/cousins-mum-on-kings-new-regime.html#storylink=cpy
which is neither a quote nor anything else definitive really, but makes sense. Only becomes a problem if you read something even further into it, and assume that Fegan is already demanding a max extension before the season even starts. That seems unlikely/unreasonable. Assuming anything but regression though, we've always known after next season Cousins will likely be a max guy.
 
#4
Is this a trick question?!

Max deal all day, every day. You just don't come across that type of talent easily and he is max talent. You cannot overpay these types of players especially as a small market team. Even if he doesn't work out here, there will ALWAYS be a team more than willing to take on Cousins at max deal and give it a chance in getting it to work.

I think Cousins will get a max extension this off-season. It will not be a case of him becoming a restricted free agent.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#5
Way too soon for this question. Let's just see whether he can get through the first month or two of the regular season without getting kicked out of the lockeroom.
 

Spike

Subsidiary Intermediary
Staff member
#6
Cousins has repeatedly states that he wants to build a contender in sacramento. Any "trade" rumor is posturing from his agent, and he's the reason why this is being floated out there. Don't bite on this one. Cousins will get his money. The larger problem is cleaning house both with duplicative players and useless contracts in order to build that contender.
 
#7
Article in bee says that cousins agent wants a max extension or threat of trade demand. What would be max for him?
Max deal is 5 years at 25% of the cap. He would need to be MVP this year to qualify for the star increase of 30% of the cap.

So it's something like 5 years $80 mil.
 
#8
When he signed with Fegan that was going to be an obvious outcome. And given the state of NBA bigs, its not really a question anyway.

This was the only mention in that article about it:



which is neither a quote nor anything else definitive really, but makes sense. Only becomes a problem if you read something even further into it, and assume that Fegan is already demanding a max extension before the season even starts. That seems unlikely/unreasonable. Assuming anything but regression though, we've always known after next season Cousins will likely be a max guy.
Except he only has until October 31st to sign an extension now then he becomes a RFA next year.
 
#9
Well now, lets see what you're made of PDA.

Tough spot. You'd have to max out Cousins, but I really don't want to. Not yet. It sets a pretty bad example - Lead the NBA in tech's for 2 years, multiple suspensions and fines, trade 'requests', fighting with teammates, coaches, media members ... And I love Cousins, but he would be the riskiest max player in the league to this point. He's also never won anything and plays little to no defense.

I'd max him over trading him, but the Kings still have all of the leverage here. We won't trade him if we don't want too, and he'll be restricted anyway. I'd like to see us play this season out.
 
#10
Well now, lets see what you're made of PDA.

Tough spot. You'd have to max out Cousins, but I really don't want to. Not yet. It sets a pretty bad example - Lead the NBA in tech's for 2 years, multiple suspensions and fines, trade 'requests', fighting with teammates, coaches, media members ... And I love Cousins, but he would be the riskiest max player in the league to this point. He's also never won anything and plays little to no defense.

I'd max him over trading him, but the Kings still have all of the leverage here. We won't trade him if we don't want too, and he'll be restricted anyway. I'd like to see us play this season out.
There is also the risk of not signing him now and all the trade speculation hurting the team next year.
 

Entity

Hall of Famer
#13
i started this thread wrong. It wasn't meant to be asking which we give him. More along the lines that this is what JJ is putting in print. i'd give the max all day no questions asked.
 
#15
If I'm reading Larry Coon's salary cap FAQ right (link), assuming he doesn't win MVP this year, Cousins's max deal would start at $14.6/year, at 25% of this season's estimated salary cap of $58.5 million (link).

I'd pay that number no question. Even if Cousins were to eventually ask out, he's easily marketable at that price.

Edit: I wonder if they can make some (not much, but say $1 million a year or so) non-guaranteed/contingent on number of technicals, or league suspensions.
 
#16
Agents are so annoying. The owner is brand new and the GM was just hired a few days ago. He's hiring his staff and has the draft next week. Let the man breath a little and have a respectful conversation before telling Cousins to start with the "no comment" responses that are sure to hit the press. Slimy.

All that said, just extend him with the max as soon as possible (July 1?). We know his talent and his flaws and he is still worth it. If he's the cornerstone, let him and everyone know it.
 
#17
You max him out right now. The team still has leverage that if Cousins does not pan out, there is still a market for him and you are in a good position to receive some kind of value back. If you trade him now on his rookie contract, what are you going to get back for him?

With that said, I believe that a new contract, a new environment will bring the best out of DeMarcus Cousins. I am looking for a monster season from him and if you make the finacial investment now, it is a good faith agreement on both sides to make this work.

You sign DeMarcus Cousins to a Max Deal on July 1.
 
#18
Agree. a MAXED OUT Cousins is worth more to us than a rookie contract Cousins. He wouldn't be a player that would be hard to get rid of if we had to.
 
#20
Tough Tough Tough. On one hand, we all know what Cousins potential is as a player. On the other, the only elite production he's showcased thus far is his rebounding ability.

The smart thing would be to wait a year and see how he performs under our new regime and Malone. He still has far too many questions with his game to just max him now. I want to see him stay out of trouble, improve his effort defensively, and improve his efficiency on offense.
 
#21
If we give him the max contract (preferably sooner than later), his attitude will likely improve. If we give it to him quick he'll see we really want him here, which we do. Plus, when is the next time Sacramento will have a potential superstar on their hands?

I am just worried that if we don't offer him the max soon, that he might feel like we don't want him and he might get offended, and we don't need that kind of mentality from DCuz.
 
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#22
Except he only has until October 31st to sign an extension now then he becomes a RFA next year.
Is waiting for this the worst thing in the world?

If he shows he's a max player next season, then we won't have a problem matching any offer. If he flames out under Malone, then we're not on the hook for a max deal. If he decides to take the QO and run the season after, then he never had an interest being our franchise guy in the first place.
 
#23
Is waiting for this the worst thing in the world?

If he shows he's a max player next season, then we won't have a problem matching any offer. If he flames out under Malone, then we're not on the hook for a max deal. If he decides to take the QO and run the season after, then he never had an interest being our franchise guy in the first place.
Well, if he is asking for the max contract extension, then I am pretty sure he'd like to stay here and be the main man.
 
#24
You max him out right now. The team still has leverage that if Cousins does not pan out, there is still a market for him and you are in a good position to receive some kind of value back. If you trade him now on his rookie contract, what are you going to get back for him?

With that said, I believe that a new contract, a new environment will bring the best out of DeMarcus Cousins. I am looking for a monster season from him and if you make the finacial investment now, it is a good faith agreement on both sides to make this work.

You sign DeMarcus Cousins to a Max Deal on July 1.
i tend to agree with this line of thinking. at the personnel level, the contemporary nba is as much a collection of assets as it is a pool of talented players. demarcus cousins is the first asset the kings have acquired in many years with legitimate superstar potential, and such assets are awarded max contracts whether they've made good on that potential or not, particularly if they display elite talent at the PF or C positions...

of course, it isn't an ideal situation for a team like the kings, but it is the reality of the marketplace. in a league starved of quality big men, the kings will have no problem moving a maxed-out demarcus cousins should his behavior worsen, should his skillset regress, should the team further botch his development, or should they simply decide to go in a different direction. in the event of a future trade, somebody else will undoubtedly be prepared to give cousins a chance, and the kings will be able to acquire something in the way of useful assets in return, which is better than the "nothing" they'll receive if they balk at the notion of signing DMC to a max contract...
 
#28
Im not talking about if something happens. Until hes extended there will be trade rumors. The rumors will have a negative effect on the team.
indeed, but i'd note that the rumors aren't something new. they've been around already. demarcus has had to squash those rumors on numerous occasions. it's a good sign that he and his agent appear to want to sign a max extension with sacramento. he wants to be here, he's expressed as much to the media, and he's undoubtedly expressed the same to his agent, who rather prudently told his client not to comment on anything before first initiating conversations with the team regarding the possibility of extension. of course, dan fegan's an incredibly aggressive type of agent, so it's no surprise that he floated language like "max contract" and "trade demand." good. it's out there, and now the team has to deal with it. the sooner, the better, in my opinion...
 
#29
Defend adequately, run the floor adequately, shoot an average % from the floor for your position, show up every night, don't be stupid on/floor, be clutch and don't sabotage down the stretch, help your team reach the next level, have some kind of trade value so we wouldn't be bidding against ourselves - at least some of that I need to see before I hear the term max associated with him
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#30
Yes, there's a risk with giving Cuz a max extension, but there's a risk in signing anyone for that amount of money. We all tend to focus on his behavior, and thats understandable, but look at what happened to Webb. Every max salary in the league is just one injury away from being a nightmare. The positive side of this is that his agent isn't asking for a trade, saying Cousins wants out of town. That he's tired of losing and tired of the coaching merrygoround.

Nope! What Cuz and his agent are saying, is that Cousins wants to stay in sacramento. He doesn't want to be traded, but will ask for one only if, he's not wanted. Cousins is an emotional young man, which is both good, and bad. Its his emotions that drive him to be great, and to win. But its also his emotions that cause his outbursts at what he perceives to be an injustice on the court. If we truely believe that he's our future foundation, then show him that, and sign him to an extension. This is a young man that doesn't like BS, or game playing. He's blatantly honest in what he believes and how he feels. Its what gets him in trouble at times. So I don't think this is the time to do something that might create the illusion, that he's being manipulated.

The orginization has a choice. They can decide to wait and see, which will leave an air of unknown and tension hanging over the team all year. Or, they can sign him to a max extension, and start the year tension free, with nothing but basketball on everyone's mind. Personally, I'd choose the latter.