My Take on Cousins and our Possible Draft Scenarios

by R-Man on May 29, 2010 9:46 PM PDT

I mentioned this before in a thread, but I don't think it has really been discussed. I think the Kings will have a very good handle on what the situation is with DeMarcus Cousins and his "baggage."

With Tyreke being close to Coach Cal, we should know all of the dirt on Cousins. If Calipari trashes the guy behind closed doors, we should be one of the teams with the best information. That being said, Tyreke seemed really high on Cousins when he mentioned who he wanted to us to pick, and you would think if Coach Cal had said bad things about the guy, Tyreke wouldn't have been campaiging for him.

In my mind, if Cousins is available and we take him, I have to assume GP is fine with his issues. This is the best case scenario in my mind.

Second best scenario is Cousins isn't available and we take Wes Johnson. I am fine with Johnson, and I really think he will be a good player. Love the hops and the jumper. I think he could be an all-star caliber player, great defender and rebounder for a wing player. If he can play the 2 with Tyreke, we could have a devestating backcourt.

Worst case scenario is Cousins is available and we pass on him. Obviously, this means Petrie knows more than we do and he isn't comfortable with Cousins (and Petrie is a GM that has been OK with JWill, CWebb, Vernon Maxwell and Bonzi Wells), so that means he really must be a risk. I think talent-wise, there is a big drop off after 5 and if we pass on him, it means his baggage is too much to deal with. In this case, we are forced to go (in my mind) to second tier players like Aminu, Monroe, and Alrich (my least favorite pick).

Thus, I really hope we get either Cousins or Johnson.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think your basic argument is fine

But I rec anybody who sums up with a “thus”

There are some guys smarter than me, some guys better looking, I take comfort in the fact that there is no guy that is both.

by ElRonToro on May 29, 2010 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

I want a green post

Thus, Thus, Thus, Thus, Thus I should get rec’d 5 times for 5 thus’s

...

by prowseinthehouse on May 29, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 7 recs

That is the Attorney in you

How about a therefore, heretowith; and some others..

"If my aunt had a set of nuts, she'd be my uncle"

by want2win on May 30, 2010 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

In summation
heretofore

Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

by wallywagon11 on May 30, 2010 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

In regards to your best case scenario....

I’m not sold on the guy but I don’t mind being proven wrong.
I like the second best scenario.
An alternative 3rd case scenario, which might not necessarily be the worst….instead of passing on Cousins, the Kings take him and trade him…

by getPGwithbounce on May 29, 2010 10:38 PM PDT reply actions

I hadn't thought about trading Cousins

We might be able to get good value or dump a contract (say trade draft spots with Detroit and dump Noc.)

Thus, this is yet another acceptable outcome ElRon.

by R-Man on May 29, 2010 10:54 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I don't respect coach Cal very much and I trust him even less...

He only looks out for himself and the team he is currently coaching. UMASS and Memphis have already vacated final four appearances and Kentucky may have to vacate their Elite Eight appearance. He’s going to say nothing but good things about Cousins regardless of how he really feels. The higher Cousins goes in the draft the more he’ll be able to sell potential recruits about getting them to the NBA.

by ucla06 on May 29, 2010 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

How is coach Harrick (sp) doing these days??

Sorry I could not resist, but I will give it to the Bruins as they have been producing some good NBA talent the past few years

"If my aunt had a set of nuts, she'd be my uncle"

by want2win on May 30, 2010 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't have an opinion one way or the other on Calipari

But I do agree with UCLA06 that Coach Cal has no reason to give GP, ‘Reke, or anyone else in the NBA the dirt. If word got around that he submarined one of his top players (and it would) how much harder would that make recruiting. On the other hand, If Cousins is chosen high it makes it much easier to tell another talented but troubled player that this is the place to come. Since Calipari is happy coaching college ball and doesn’t appear to have NBA aspirations, there is no reason to ingratiate himself to any NBA teams. That being said, I don’t think NBA teams will have much trouble getting the down and dirty from other players, inside sources, and normal interviewing and background checks. With this kind of money/talent on the line, they will all do their homework.

"And I never said I don’t like KMart. I just don’t think the duo is good for the team. They are essentially two of the same player"

Sammyp831.

by SavageBeast on May 30, 2010 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd for SB and ucla06. My vision of college coaches regarding recruiting and the NBA draft

by betweentheeyes on May 30, 2010 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions

No Scenario 3

If Cousins is available, Kings have to take him. Trading him on draft day or over the summer would just be a variation on Scenario 1, since you’re using the value of the BPA to dump contracts and/or add player(s) that you want more than Cousins.

This kid could be a star, and like soon – 16pts, 10rebs as rookie wouldn’t surprise me.

WORST CASE by far would be passing on Cousins for one of those 2nd tier players at #5, like Monroe or Aldrich. If Kings want one of those guys, they HAVE to trade down to justify taking him over Cousins or Johnson.

by Watty4ever on May 30, 2010 10:11 AM PDT reply actions

Those are

Really Really good rookie numbers. I don’t think he will do that his rookie year. But something like 13 and 8 would not surprise me one bit.

by oakland9 on May 31, 2010 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions

you fogot one other player Petrie went after

Ron-Ron right after the malice at the palace. That was probably the riskiest move he has ever made. And while it probably wasn’t perfect the way everything played out, it really worked out by getting the kings to the playoffs that year, and getting some future assets as well as staying at least marginally competitive.

I think Artest was a bigger risk than Cousins is, because Cousins still has some room to mature. And I think being teamed up with good, friendly guys in Donte, JT, and Garcia would really help him come along. Not to mention Truck Robinson making sure he knows who’s boss.

And practicing with Brockman and Casspi will test his tantrums…and I think that by going through some of those isssues in practice can help him mature.

Phil Jackson, after treatment for a kidney stone "When the anesthesiologist leaned over me, he said "We named your kidney stone Kobe because it's not passing."

by Ellimist on May 30, 2010 10:34 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

it was riskier than drafting cousins

although at the time it made morse sense to be risky

Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

by wallywagon11 on May 30, 2010 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Agreed that it was riskier.

To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.

by Slam_Dunk on May 30, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Another good part about that trade

was that it traded Peja while he still had value and before the Kings inked to him a contract just before he suffered the back injuries that have derailed his career. I love me some Peja, but that was a good trade for the Kings.

Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order and Originator of the "Brock Ness Monster".

by Aykis16 on May 30, 2010 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

both Weber trades were risky

one worked out – Rock Richmond for CWebb, the other was a push – CWebb for Skinner, WIlliamson and Thomas (remember, Philly bought out Weber for $40M – to not play).

by betweentheeyes on May 30, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

while thats true

That was a different type of risk, in regards to trading Webb to Philly…I’m alluding more to the “will he behave” risk

Phil Jackson, after treatment for a kidney stone "When the anesthesiologist leaned over me, he said "We named your kidney stone Kobe because it's not passing."

by Ellimist on May 30, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions

re: DeMarcus Cousins - the best answers are between "somewhat" and "for the most part"

His every action is going to be scrutinized and used for support on the “red flag” bandwagon as they see fit (H8ers gonna H8, and all that). He is, for the next few seasons at the least, a marked ~~teenager~~ man. He is responsible for digging that hole, and the never sleeping eye of the internet to amplify it – for better or worse. It will be up to him to rise above and climb out of that pit.