Sunday, January 1st, 2012 at 6:37 pm  |  80 responses

Sacramento Kings Coach Says DeMarcus Cousins Has Demanded a Trade


Can’t say we saw this one coming. Sacramento Kings Head Coach Paul Westphal just released a statement noting that DeMarcus Cousins has asked to be traded, and as a result has been told to stay home by his (soon-to-be-former?) team. He’ll miss tonight’s game against the Hornets. Here’s Westphal’s full statement:

“Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life!

As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.

Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public. This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.

DeMarcus Cousins has demanded to be traded. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, he has been directed by me, with the support of management, to stay home from the New Orleans game tonight.”

(H/T: InsideHoops)

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  • Mike

    I think he’s a solid talent and all, but there’s such a shocking sense of entitlement amongst certain young players in this league. Does Cousins really think that one year of service entitles him to make trade demands? Nevermind the fact that he’s in the midst of a long-term deal.

  • Zack

    Don’t reward him for demanding a trade by giving him days off, make him come to practice and make him work his ass off

  • http://www.optimabbc.be Max

    Start de Dwight to Sac town rumours!

  • Fresh Boiardee

    What’s with this….Who is this guy to demand to be traded? He’s a second year player who has done nothing! NBA needs to teach this guy a lesson, either trade him to the worst team possible or just sit him for the remainder of his rookie contract and bring in a free agent to take his place. This type of stuff has to stop, it’s bad for the game.

  • Jono

    This guy is a disgrace. He’s in such a good position on a young upstart team and is a crucial part of the team’s post game. With Evans, Thornton and Jimmer, the Kings have a solid back-court and its baffling how he’s demanding a trade. Whatever the reason is.

  • Jay

    Dude has been immature his whole life. He may never grow up and reach his potential.

  • Isaac

    I’m not a Kings fan, but somehow have watched every one of their games thus far, and i have to say I don’t blame him for asking to be traded at all.. The kid is an absolute beast and the guard rotation of Evans, Thornton, Jimmer and Isaiah is one of the most amazing chuckfests I’ve ever witnessed.

    DeMarcus has been making huge plays for the Kings and they just refuse to pass the ball.. Thornton and Evans just take turns dribbling the ball for 20 seconds before jacking up a shot. Its infuriating to watch.

  • Pp

    Celtics or wizards

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    Damn this dude is pretty dumb, this makes him look pretty ungrateful to be honest.

  • fish sticks

    honetsly dude is a second year player always running his mouth. No respect. What a bum.

  • T-Money

    BlackPhantom: please enlighten me, what should cousins be grateful for? cousins is a lot of things (immature being one of them) but he has a tremedous basketball iq and can sniff incompetence. he said to the press that sacramento doesn’t run any offensive system – comments that were echoed by tyreke. if he lands on a serious organization like san an, boston, miami or dallas, he’s going to be a monster.

  • T-Money

    fwiw, cousins’ agent is denying that a trade has been requested.

  • TomG

    What hell do you expect him to do..he’s on a team with guys who jack up 3′s and never look to pass the ball inside. This man/kid is carrying the load for the team by himself, without him they are just hosed. You’d think the dumb ass coaches would see this happening, and tell those guards that ball MUST go inside first. The man can play and get it done, but playing for a dumb coach who doesn’t care or know how to win games..and having to carry a bunch of selfish guards, I’d demand to be traded too…

  • manu

    come to T.O.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    He should grateful for the fact he’s in the NBA right now, instead of demanding a trade when his 2ND SEASON just started.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    *be grateful

  • http://shinefluid@aol.com yada

    why is everyone so mad he wants to be traded? “be grateful” he’s in the NBA. oh please. if the kings dont want him you know how many teams are gonna jump to pick him up?

  • april

    This is the reason there should be an age requirement to be drafted! DeMarcus has all the potential in the world, but his attitude is still very childish……let’s remember this kid is 20/21. Personally I wish hr would have stayed at Kentucky (UK) a couple more years in order to learn how to be coached!!!! Love DeMarcus and I wish him the very best, but the kid needs to get a grip…..he signed a contract!!!! Go Big Blue…….I’m sorry, but its players with this attitude that make watching pro sports not a great experience!!!! I love college ball b/c that’s where you see the heart of the game!!!!

  • 12ising Phoenix

    Knicks, come off the bench & be cool .

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    T-Money: Very few of those teams will take a chance on this guy. Sorry, but he’s done nothing but cause problems. A lot of problems.

  • 12ising Phoenix

    Werd, who wants this guy as the focal point of their offense? And of you don’t give him the ball , he’ll.demand a trade. Man , some of these NBA dudes got it too good. The kings offense is quite flawed, but play your part big man, if you can’t .. leave via free agency. Millions of ppl would love to be a starter on a young NBA squad, be fortunate!

  • DMoney

    Cousins won 30 games in college and was on the most talent college hoops team in a decade. And he averaged almost 15 points his rookie year. Anybody who thinks “no” team will bother on him is crazy. Yeah he is a immature and confrontational guy. But he let’s no one intimidate him ever. If he played for a big market contender people would love him and be buying his jersey like crazy. Who becomes a superstar in Sacramento??? That’s why all the haters keep saying they don’t like him Bc he “hasn’t done enough to demand a trade”
    So it’s clearly about on the court more than off regardless of his attitude. And the dude can hoop. Period

  • http://slamonline.com Fut.

    If I was a big on the Kings, I’d ask/demand for a trade too. There’s always a demand for quality bigs and he’s a starter for most teams as it is now. If you’re getting screwed over by the coaching, trades the only way out sans an offensive overhaul by the front office.

    That being said … he f***ed my fantasy team for today. Wanker.

  • ripslam

    Who would want him, like honestly…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Tarzan Cooper

    Kings offense is awful. Cuz should get the ball a lot more. Westphal is awful. Cuz wants to win, and seeshis teammates as just chuckers. Can’t blame hi$ for not wanting to stay on that kind of team. That said, I think reke and cuz would be great together for many yrs

  • fizzbucket

    Cousins deserves the ‘Big Baby’ name, not Glen Davis. Clearly he just whined to anyone who would listen except his agent, so now he’s basically alienated himself from his team with his agent completely in the dark. Smart guy…

  • Allenp

    Man that team is dysfunctional and honestly Cousins wad playing like the best player on the floor. I hate thee whiny coaches and whiny players. Cousins didn’t go public with his demands he kept it in house and Westphal complained to the media.

  • Respect

    John wall is prob. Demanding the wizards to get him rite now lol

  • Allenp

    How many of y’all have watched this team this year? Last year bashing Cousins made sense. This year all they do is dribble around and jack shots while he crashes the boards and hustles. It is crazy. The only reason a vet team wont get him is they don’t have the pieces. The Rockets should are what is up.

  • http://shinefluid@aol.com yada

    if YOU REALY think “very few” teams will take a chance on him you ARE LYING TO YOURSELF

  • DMoney

    Yeah NBA teams always stay away from the guys with 7″4 wing spans and great ball skills. And 15 points a game his rookie year really makes you question his ability. The NBA never tolerates big personalities or “trouble makers” . Yeah… Sound logic

  • Waskito

    Seen this on his face at the last game vs knicks

  • ash

    What is the reason for coach to bring this to public?? Maybe to make the young man look bad in public.

  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    CELTICS CELTICS CELTICS

  • Addam

    News of this makes me long for the Jailblazers of old…

  • http://www.slamonline.com melvin ely

    Cuz is young, built like a house, and plays his a$$ off. Granted he’s a bit of a doosh, but there are a LOT of teams out there that will take his pros over his cons in a heartbeat. BUT, if you’re a Kings fan or a Kings management, you really don’t want to here this kind of talk while you’re in the middle of rebuilding. Like Allen said, this team is pretty dysfunctional, nothing else to say about it.

  • Blakos

    To the wizards please

  • Hart

    Dudes not gettin traded for Dwight. Dwight wouldnt sign w/ Kings and Magic should not want him.

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    I don’t care how bad the team is… this is the dude who was fighting his own teammates and not showing up for practices last year. I think he needs more than four games to show how much he has “changed.”
    He is a well known brat and this isn’t helping his image.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    sacremanto is a dysfunctional ass team… honestly I’d be frustrated too.

  • Stroshow

    I bet he ends up on the Warriors. They’ve been trying all summer to get a good centre, now that DMC’s at a steep discount they’ll put something together.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    if the lakers are smart they’ll try and grab him somehow or work a deal out wit the magic somehow.

  • ripslam

    PLEASE not the Celtics. Oh, hell no. For the love of god.

  • http://slam.online house

    got no sympathy for this guy, I watch him play and he pouts in true brat style, commits stupid fouls and then pouts, puts up stupid shots and then pouts because he misses, it gets old after a while. But having said that I don’t doubt he could be a force in the L but he needs a serious f*****g attitude re-adjustment and like I said previous its obvious that he could be good, hell, he has had some good games but he needs major work, hell maybe Oprah could help as a role model. Or not.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I tried to think of who would trade for him and I only came up with 5 teams that would even take a risk on Cousins, – Detroit, Golden State, New Jersey, Washington, Orlando. – anybody realistically think of anyone else? Maybe houston cuz they were so high on him in the first place.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    The asking price will still be really high. It’s not like Sacramento is just going to give him away.

  • T-Money

    you guys are absolutely crazy if you think no one will take a chance on him. there is nothing that can replace talent in the nba, and cousins is one the most talented young bigs in the league. his skill level is at his size is mesmerizing. boston, san antonio, miami, dallas – just to name a few – would gladly take him. he’s that good.

  • http://shinefluid@aol.com yada

    he is JUST what the celtics need honestly. a young talented big? they right back in championship contension

  • spg4

    Well I can see why he has alot of talent but not much help

  • Mariano

    SA should go after him

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