Report: Celtics One Of Four Teams Likely To Land Kings' DeMarcus Cousins
BOSTON (CBS) - After Sunday night's performance against Boston, it should come as no surprise the Celtics reportedly one of the teams interested in acquiring Kings center/forward DeMarcus Cousins.
But as is the case with any talented big man in the league, the Celtics are expected to have plenty of competition for his services.
"According to the source, the four teams that are most likely to end up making such a deal for cousins are Boston, Dallas, Orlando and Charlotte," according to a report by Kentucky Sports Radio.
The Celtics certainly need a big man as they rank dead-last in the NBA in rebounding at just 38.5 boards per game. Cousins -- who posted a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Celtics on Sunday night -- would help Boston in the paint with his 6-11, 270-lbs build and 9.5 rebounds per game. According to ESPN, Boston has already let Sacramento know they are interested if/when they decide to deal the 22-year-old.
But Cousins comes with plenty of baggage along with his talent.
Cousins, who was drafted fifth overall by Sacramento in 2010 after spending one year at Kentucky, has already been suspended three times this season: once for a verbal altercation with Spurs announcer Sean Elliot following some less-than-flattering comments about Cousins during the November 9th Spurs-Kings tilt; once for hitting Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo in the groin just two days later; and last week by Sacramento for a verbal altercation he had with Kings head coach Keith Smart.
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The Kings are reportedly conflicted about dealing Cousins, who was seen as a big part of Sacramento's young core moving forward. Kings GM Geoff Petrie told NBA.com's David Aldridge that Cousins wasn't going anywhere, but that is just him doing his due diligence as a GM.
Should the Kings decide to move him, it will require a hefty haul in return -- something the Celtics may not be able to accommodate.
There is little doubt Cousins would improve the 12-14 Celtics, but it will be up to Danny Ainge to decide if it's worth the Kings' asking price -- and all the baggage that comes with the young star.
