The Sacramento Kings have traded All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski:
Sacramento has agreed to trade DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans, league source tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 20, 2017
Deal with the Pels includes guard Buddy Hield, and a 2017 first-round pick to the Kings for Cousins, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 20, 2017
Sources: New Orleans is also sending the Kings a 2017 second-round pick (via Philadelphia) and Tyreke Evans in deal, league sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 20, 2017
Cousins - who has been the subject of trade rumors for the last two years - had said earlier this week that he planned on signing an extension with the Kings this offseason and wanted to spend his whole career there. Kings general manager Vlade Divac also said this week they had no intentions of trading Cousins.
Sacramento reportedly wanted to get future assets in return for their All-Star, and this move does that while giving them a great chance to keep their first round pick in this year's deep draft. If their pick falls outside of the top 10, it will go to the Bulls.
For New Orleans, they have been trying to pair Anthony Davis with another star, and this move certainly fits the bill. The Pelicans are currently 2.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and this gives them a great chance to make a run.
Cousins is averaging 27.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.
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