NBA Trade News: Pelicans Add ‘Boogie’ Cousins

Sacramento Kings reportedly trade DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans Pelicans

by Brian Yalung

On a night where the night belonged to New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, lingering in the background was NBA trade talk involving DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins played only a total of two minutes, reportedly due to injury.

Now reports are flying that DeMarcus Cousins has been traded to the 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

The deal is not official and needs to be finalized. According to ESPN, the deal would see Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway plus a future first and second round pick. An updated report from the Associated Press reveals that Omri Casspi has been packaged with Cousins to New Orleans.

And while most are awaiting the trade to be made official, even more, interesting is if the Pelicans can keep “Boogie” after this season. Most feel that the Pelicans would not pursue the trade if New Orleans was not confident of re-signing the temperamental forward.

Cousins’ agent Jarinn Akana told ESPN as well that the all-star center would most likely decline to sign a contract extension in the Summer with any team that trades for him.

The recent development comes as a shock considering Cousins had earlier expressed he was happy with the Kings. A couple of days ago, many were under the impression that “Boogie” was on the verge of signing a $219 million deal this Summer.

The Pelicans are also inquiring about Paul George of the Indiana Pacers as trade talks heat up before the NBA trade deadline set this Thursday, Feb. 23. Assuming that the deal is made official, coach Alvin Gentry will have to find a way to rebuild his backcourt with only Tim Frazier remaining.