The Sacramento Kings trading DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans was both shocking and confusing. Here's a simple FAQ to better understand it.
Q: Why did the Kings do this trade now?
A: The new CBA changed things and created a new and accelerated timeline for the Kings. There's now a rule that allows players to extend their contracts up to five years a year before they become free agents. Cousins is one of those players. So while he is not a free agent until 2018, the Kings suddenly had a massive free agent decision coming this July.