The Kings made a very surprising and also interesting decision to trade its All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, Feb. 19. Last week, the Kings management announced that Cousins will not be traded.
The decision also surprised Cousins himself. In an post-game interview after the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, reporters asked Cousins of his possible trade. The 26-year old player said whatever happens will happen.
A few hours later, Sacramento Kings has reached the decision to trade its two players with five players, as reported by ESPN. Kings sent Cousins and forward Omri Casspi to New Orleans in return to rookie point guard Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, also the first and second round picks of the 2017 NBA Draft.
This comes as a surprise, because last week Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac has stated to keep Cousins in Sacramento. Divac was reported to have a conversation with Cousins’ agent to keep him in Sacramento.
However, things change very fast. Sacramento Kings announced the trade deal on Monday, according to Bleacher Report,. Following the decision, Cousins said goodbye to his fans in Sacramento and in an emotional message he said that he still loves Sacramento and his love for the city will never change.
"Even though I'm gone, it will still be the same,” Cousins said to his fans in Sacramento. “Every family in this city matters to me."
The 6’11” center will now re-eact his amazing performance with Anthony Davis during the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. Together, they will become the unstoppable force in the front court and will deliver an imminent threat to all NBA teams as the twin towers of New Orleans. Their duets will be very different than the Philadelphila 76ers centers who have to compete for playing time.
Watch the discussion in the NBA “Game Time” about Cousins trade to Pelicans below:
