Kings will NOT trade Cousins, per Yahoo! Sports

[J-WILL55]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...wu8vLYF?slug=ys-demarcus_cousins_kings_010112

Kings co-owner Joe Maloof and general manager Geoff Petrie said they will not trade Cousins, regardless of his wishes. Cousins, 21, is in the second year of a rookie contract paying him $3.6 million this season, and it would be tough for the Kings to get equal value for a talented player who already has a long history of throwing temper tantrums.

andddddddd


Teams interested in Cousins have called the Kings, but none believes the team will seriously consider trading him so early in his career. Several rival executives expect the Kings will eventually make a coaching change and try a tougher style with Cousins.

“Once you saw that release only came from Westphal, that was a telltale sign that this was a coach venting and not a call to the league by management and ownership that they were trading Cousins,” one Eastern Conference executive told Y! Sports.

 

[nebs]

"We're happy that he's a King," Maloof told Y! Sports. "But when a coach asks you to do something, you got to do it. We're not trading him. …We have great expectations for him. It's just one of those things that happens.

"Sooner or later he'll understand what the NBA is about. Just get along with people. That's all."


"Once you saw that release only came from Westphal, that was a telltale sign that this was a coach venting and not a call to the league by management and ownership that they were trading Cousins," one Eastern Conference executive told Y! Sports

"He's selfish," one source close to the team said of Cousins. "He's always angry or clowning. He needs to change. The Kings have been great about covering things up for him, and his agent has been protecting him.

"He's always miserable. He acts like he's entitled."


Some players are disillusioned with the constant drain of Cousins' tantrums, sulking and absence of professionalism. "He's a bully, and they let him get away with it," one source said. "No one wants to deal with the guy."

"He's passionate and he wants to win, but he just needs to learn how to control his actions," Kings center Chuck Hayes said. "Some things are better left unsaid. And if you're not feeling the system, the team, the players, don't let your body language say it."


Said Kings guard Tyreke Evans: "I've known DeMarcus for a long time and I want nothing but the best for him, but hopefully he can keep his head on straight and be a part of this team because we need him."


"He just has to put away the childish things and start to grow up," Petrie said. "Learn to be more professional. Learn to put in effort and time and grow as a player. We want to help him help himself and the team."

 

[PurpleHaze]

Paul Westphal remains until end of the season or Keith Smart takes over as interim head coach at some point. Then, after Kentucky wins NCAA basketball championship the Kings finally get only coach Cousins likes/trusts for a boat load of $ - John Calipari.

 

[UK_King]

I think it was on draft night (cousins draft,) maybe before actually, he was asked about hooking up with coach cal again in the NBA, and lets just say he wasn't keen.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I think it was on draft night (cousins draft,) maybe before actually, he was asked about hooking up with coach cal again in the NBA, and lets just say he wasn't keen.

I seem to recall that as well, but somehow, someway, Cousins needs to grow up and realize it's not all about him every second. Cousins seems to get into it with anyone in authority - even his high school coach Kings brought in as an assistant coach/babysitter last season is now gone. I doubt Calipari would come to Sac (maybe Anaheim) but just thought of a coach who had both Reke (Memphis) and Cuz (Kentucky) makes it at least an intriguing thought.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I think it was on draft night (cousins draft,) maybe before actually, he was asked about hooking up with coach cal again in the NBA, and lets just say he wasn't keen.

That's unusual, considering that Calipari chose to sit at Cousins' table in the green room, rather than John Wall's. Maybe Cousins didn't want to feed into any speculation that Calipari might leave Kentucky. He always has seemed to have good things to say about him.


By the way, this is not an endorsement of Calipari for our coach. His history does not suggest that he is either an adequate pro coach, nor does he intend to stay in one place very long if he sees a better opportunity.

 

[nebs]

Calipari tweeted this photo of a Christmas Card Cousins sent him a few days ago..

So they seem to have a decent relationship still.

 

[UK_King]

It's here he mentions it skip to like 5:50.

it's more in jest but i'd hardly call that an endorsement.

They definitely have a good off court relationship, seems like two guys with a lot of passion just jawing on court.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

It's here he mentions it skip to like 5:50.

it's more in jest but i'd hardly call that an endorsement.

They definitely have a good off court relationship, seems like two guys with a lot of passion just jawing on court.

But it's also a good idea not to answer a question where a reporter basically asks you to endorse your coach hypothetically leaving his high-profile job. It's a terrible question and he was right not to answer.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

But it's also a good idea not to answer a question where a reporter basically asks you to endorse your coach hypothetically leaving his high-profile job. It's a terrible question and he was right not to answer.

Right on. Especially with all the NCAA bylaws. I'm pretty sure I'd be worried about saying something that I'm not supposed to there.