Cousins max deal or trade?

[Padrino]

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

of course you'd like to see those things, but if you wait around too long, he's gone. simple as that. this is the way the marketplace functions in the contemporary nba. in a small market, you must lock up your assets before they decide to seek greener pastures. and, for the record, demarcus cousins has every right to want to test free agency when his rookie deal expires. he plays for a terrible team in a less-than-desirable market, and it's not exactly as if the previous regime ever gave him anything that resembled a full-fledged endorsement...

the fact that he and his agent are talking max extension before new ownership/management/coaching has made a single player personnel decision is a great sign. so you ink that max deal and you don't think twice. it's a risk, but if you want to win in a small market, you have to take a few risks. i'll bank on the center with superstar potential eleven times out of ten, especially given the state of the nba...

the league is shrinking. you can count the number of quality starting centers on less than one hand. he's not playing in an era of big men. shaq's long gone. duncan's nearly retired. howard's overrated. marc gasol and roy hibbert are excellent, but that's about it for DMC's competition. he will very likely become the best center in the league, and it likely won't take that much prodding to help get him there...

 

[TyFreak Evans]

First, and most of you probably know this already, I am not a DeMarcus Cousins fan by any stretch of the imagination. BUT, I do see potential in the guy, and I am willing to give him a shot to prove himself. If what people around here, and the media, are saying is true, then I would not oppose giving him a max deal, as long as we surround him with talent. Dude wants to win, simple as that. If winning will cure his attitude, then I am all for locking him up long term and building around him.

If we lock him up long term, build around him, start winning, and the whining does not stop, then, and only then, would I seriously pursue a trade. Until that happens, I am willing to wait it out.

 

[sdballer]

I'm not sure how there would even be a debate on this. The decent to good centers in the league are all making
11-15 M and he already better than most and has the potential to be the best. Even with an average year, he'd still be worth close to the max so no point holding out over a couple million bucks.

 

[Agent23]

It's a no brainer. Max him! As a small market franchise, we have a once in a decade type talent that fell to us in the draft. You have to go for the home run. This organization must make sure he becomes that player we know he can be.

 

[Geoff]

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.

If he's asking for the max contract, it's because he wants the max money.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe he wants to stay in Sac, but the money will always come first. Nothing wrong with that, it's only human.

I'd say wait. Massage his ego, and wait. Like someone said upthread, his performance this year will be key for the max contract extention. If he earns it through his playing, then I'm sure Vivek would match whatever he gets on the RFA market. If he does the immature baby thing, it just diminishes his value as an investment. I would hope the waiting helps him to continue maturing.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

im ok with it. that's an agents job

 

[Nighthawk1]

This isn't a tough question. Max and don't think twice about it. The business aspect of it may be a slight posture and say we need you fully, mentally, maturely on board to take this Kings team where DMC has already stated he wants to take it.

 

[cuad]

I would give him a Brook Lopez level salary. 13.7 up to 16.7 millions.

 

[Livinthedream]

His agent has us right where he wants us. At this point in time, there is no way that Sacramento can sign a free agent with Cousin's talent, so we have to overpay to keep what we have. The price of doing business in a small market. We have to max him out, because there is no real alternative.

 

[The Hammer]

You've already come out and said you want him to be the cornerstone of the franchise for years to come, AND that you're not going to carry any thing over from the previous regime and come with open arms and open mind regarding any 'issues', so if you play games with him by not extending him this summer to somehow show him be has to 'prove' himself or whatever, you're already starting with the double talk bull**** that Cousins so despises, damaging his trust. That's a risk you have to weigh against him being a bust or too mumuch of a headache. Ironically, if you just max him out now, you reduce the factors that might cause problems for him anyway.

There's no question the talent is there to deserve a max, you've stated to the media you want him as the cornerstone, now you back up your words.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Will maxing his contract affect the FO's ability to sign and trade good FAs later? I'm not versed at all with team management and cap space stuff.

 

[KingsCitizen]

DMC is the type of player that would easily punish teams like MIAMI.
Bigs with that agility and offensive arsenal deserves MAX contract even if that guy leads the league in technical fouls because technical fouls are overrated. Check the league leaders here and tell me if there are no max player in that list.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Will maxing his contract affect the FO's ability to sign and trade good FAs later? I'm not versed at all with team management and cap space stuff.

Only to the extent that his money would take up a portion of our salary cap.

Realistically, we're unlikely to get a guy like LeBron to come in here as a free agent. Perhaps someday in the future the culture in Sacramento will be such that the team is a perennial contender and players are beating down our door to come play in the best building in the league for the best coach, GM, and ownership in the league, but that day is not today and wishful thinking at that. We've got the choice of spending our money on Cousins, who is on the verge of being an all-star talent (though we'd all like it if he were more in control of his emotions), or saving that money and hoping to spend it on equivalent talent with no guarantee we could get it. In fact, we'd probably be out of luck.

Bird in hand, I say. Bird in hand.

 

[sactownfan]

You've already come out and said you want him to be the cornerstone of the franchise for years to come, AND that you're not going to carry any thing over from the previous regime and come with open arms and open mind regarding any 'issues', so if you play games with him by not extending him this summer to somehow show him be has to 'prove' himself or whatever, you're already starting with the double talk bull**** that Cousins so despises, damaging his trust. That's a risk you have to weigh against him being a bust or too mumuch of a headache. Ironically, if you just max him out now, you reduce the factors that might cause problems for him anyway.

There's no question the talent is there to deserve a max, you've stated to the media you want him as the cornerstone, now you back up your words

Vivek and company hasn't even really had a sit down with Cousins or his agent yet. Im sure after the draft and all the chaos settles everyone will sit and talk. I'd expect a Contract offer at some point. We have the money now! and a solid leadership. They will make the right call.

step away from the edge

 

[Elektrik]

I say give it to him. His talent outweighs his obnoxiousness (not by much). Centers like him only come along rarely and in time and with some winning and maturation he may turn into a very likeable player. Perhaps more importantly, is the fact that signing DMC to the max by the new regime would demonstrate to the team, the fans, other players in the league that were are now serious again and no longer a joke. It could make opportunities for better talent to come along more of a reality. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.

 

[Fear the Putin]

Alright, go ahead. Let Cousins walk, or even trade him. Let's see how well you'll convince a premier free agent big man to come here, let alone anyone of Cousins' talent level. Or, maybe people want to "build" through the draft again. Really, let's see how well you guys take another half decade of painful rebuilding.

This is Sacramento. Not a free agent hotbed. So, when you land someone of Cousins' talent level and stature, you hold on to him to dear life. I don't care if he's emotional, a "bonehead" as some may say. You take both of your hands and employ a cast iron grip to him and don't let go. Opportunities like these don't come around every year, let alone every "rebuild".

We have a centerpiece to build around. Don't **** around and lose this centerpiece.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Cousins could become one of, if not thee best, big men in his era, why let a talent like that walk? And he wants to win, and he has said he wants to play here. It'd be a big mistake in letting him venture into the free agent market next offseason, where a team could potentially offer him more than we can match, and we would see him slip away. It could be a bigger mistake in letting him walk than it would be a risk in signing him to the max.

 

[kupman]

You can sign him to the max, but please do not say there is no risk. He could continue to act like an adolescent. He could be worse being an adolescent with gauranteed $80 million. He could be obnoxious enough that he is damaging to the franchise and the rest of the teams in the league say "H" to the no when asked if they want to trade All Star talent for All Star talent. The best offers may be trading DMC for really bad contracts on scrubs.

 

[HndsmCelt]

You can sign him to the max, but please do not say there is no risk. He could continue to act like an adolescent. He could be worse being an adolescent with gauranteed $80 million. He could be obnoxious enough that he is damaging to the franchise and the rest of the teams in the league say "H" to the no when asked if they want to trade All Star talent for All Star talent. The best offers may be trading DMC for really bad contracts on scrubs.

Someone else might be able to answer this but I can't remember a max player not being tradeable due to behavior issues, Arenas, Iverson, and Marbury had other problems along with being nuttier than squirrel **** and there always seemed to be some level of interest in them. In fact the only Max guys I can think of that got traded for junk or were 'stuck' were damaged goods like Grant Hill and C Webb. Now this could be because the A1 nut-burgers just don't get max deals like Artest, or Roddman. But I do remember a time when Rasheed Wallace made more than C Webb and still more easily traded. In the end the Knicks have made it clear that at least one team will always take on any contract, especially if the guy can play.

 

[Kingsguy881]

Arenas was actually one of the top 10 highest paid players last season...and me thinks he didnt even play

 

[bajaden]

Here's a tweet from Sean Cunningham, who was at Cousins camp today.

Sean Cunningham @News10Sean 3h
Despite DeMarcus Cousins following advice ffrom agent not to talk about #NBAKings, I continue to hear that he wants to remain in Sac.
View details ·

 

[Packt]

I would explore trades with teams that have assets I want. If nothing of interests presents itself than put a great but not max offer in. Move from there.

 

[rainmaker]

Here's a tweet from Sean Cunningham, who was at Cousins camp today.

Sean Cunningham @News10Sean 3h
Despite DeMarcus Cousins following advice ffrom agent not to talk about #NBAKings, I continue to hear that he wants to remain in Sac.
View details ·

Good. I do believe he wants to be here, and you max him out if that's what he and his agent want without hesitation.

 

[Bricklayer]

I would explore trades with teams that have assets I want. If nothing of interests presents itself than put a great but not max offer in. Move from there.

That's kind of pointless here.

Cousins is more valuable than anything you can trade him for. He in fact could end up being one of the 10 most valuable players in the entire league. And since he knows, and everyone else knows, that after next year somebody will drop a max offer on him because of that potential, he has no reason to accept your low ball offer, and being Cousins, and with a powerful agent, is very likely to take it poorly. Fracturing loyalty with a potential franchise player is the height of folly.

This is just take your medicine time. We all knew this was coming, so you do it, with a smile on your face to sell it to both Cuz and opposing teams, and then we see what's what. My read on Cousins, based on my own personality, is that you throw unquestioned trust in him, he will do his damndest to live up to it. You show signs of distrusting him, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. So you bite the bullet and go. He barely has to improve to be a 20-10 next year. For that production alone a max contract is barely overpaying.

 

[The Hammer]

I would explore trades with teams that have assets I want. If nothing of interests presents itself than put a great but not max offer in. Move from there.

And risk creating ill will with Cousins? The thing is there is no asset in the league, except unattainable ones, that would be worth losing out on Cousins immense potential. And I would not trade DMC for Kevin Love, or even Dwight Howard.

I see no point in starting trade talks, and the possible rumors. That would be bad news.

 

[The Hammer]

That's kind of pointless here.

Cousins is more valuable than anything you can trade him for. He in fact could end up being one of the 10 most valuable players in the entire league. And since he knows, and everyone else knows, that after next year somebody will drop a max offer on him because of that potential, he has no reason to accept your low ball offer, and being Cousins, and with a powerful agent, is very likely to take it poorly. Fracturing loyalty with a potential franchise player is the height of folly.

This is just take your medicine time. We all knew this was coming, so you do it, with a smile on your face to sell it to both Cuz and opposing teams, and then we see what's what. My read on Cousins, based on my own personality, is that you throw unquestioned trust in him, he will do his damndest to live up to it. You show signs of distrusting him, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. So you bite the bullet and go. He barely has to improve to be a 20-10 next year. For that production alone a max contract is barely overpaying.

This is precisely my read as well. I think this is something other posters don't quite get, or believe. And also, this something I can highly relate to on a personal level.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Arenas was actually one of the top 10 highest paid players last season...and me thinks he didn't even play

He was waived (amnestied?) by Orlando, because he could not perform, then picked up by Memphis and let go for the same reason. (ultimately I think H went to China to play) This sort of proves my point. When he could still play, he was tradeable, once his game left he was dead weight. My point is that most untradeable players in general and especially those with the skill set to get Max salaries, are untradeable NOT because of extra curricular issues but because they can't perform well enough to warrant the price.

 

[Packt]

With Cousins it's not a question of talent. It has always been his baggage and whether that limits him and most importantly your team. You're not getting dollar for dollar in talent back. There's no question about that. You should be looking for valuable pieces that can help you build a successful team. He is everything he was predicted to be coming out of college. Talented but so volatile.

 

[Bricklayer]

With Cousins it's not a question of talent. It has always been his baggage and whether that limits him and most importantly your team. You're not getting dollar for dollar in talent back. There's no question about that. You should be looking for valuable pieces that can help you build a successful team. He is everything he was predicted to be coming out of college. Talented but so volatile.

There are no such things as valuable pieces that can help you build a team without stars. There are stars, and then support players. You can stack up 12 support players if you want, good ones, and still be doomed.

Cousins is a star level talent. The single greatest talent the Sacramento Kings have drafted in 28 years of existence. Unless you want to wait around another 28 years, you take your shot now with him while you have him. Lesser players can be acquired through various means. Players of Cousins' size and talent? Not so much.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

That's kind of pointless here.

Cousins is more valuable than anything you can trade him for. He in fact could end up being one of the 10 most valuable players in the entire league. And since he knows, and everyone else knows, that after next year somebody will drop a max offer on him because of that potential, he has no reason to accept your low ball offer, and being Cousins, and with a powerful agent, is very likely to take it poorly. Fracturing loyalty with a potential franchise player is the height of folly.

This is just take your medicine time. We all knew this was coming, so you do it, with a smile on your face to sell it to both Cuz and opposing teams, and then we see what's what. My read on Cousins, based on my own personality, is that you throw unquestioned trust in him, he will do his damndest to live up to it. You show signs of distrusting him, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. So you bite the bullet and go. He barely has to improve to be a 20-10 next year. For that production alone a max contract is barely overpaying.

I often disagree with you, Brick - but when I do agree, it's to the fullest extent possible. You and I see eye to eye on all things DeMarcus Cousins. If he gives the Kings the opportunity to lock him up to a max contract extension on July 1st, they better assume the risk and run with it. Even if things don't workout with the new staff, he'll still be a tradeable asset even at 15, 16M or whatever the amount will be. Ultra-talented, mobile big men that can post up and rebound like a monster AND hit a 17-fot jump shot consistently aren't easy to come by in this league - no matter the temperament and immaturity.

You keep the kid, build around him and take your chances.