NBA Trade Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins And Rajon Rondo To The Celtics?
With the 2016 NBA trade deadline only eight days away, rumors are spiraling out of control regarding the league’s top stars. While Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins’ name has been brought up frequently over the past few months, the latest rumored deal may be the biggest and most confusing that we have seen.
As the No. 5 pick in the 2010 NBA draft, Cousins has improved every single year since entering the league. With his 26.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game, he is one of the best centers in the league, where talent is at a premium at his position. While Cousins has put up the big numbers over the past six seasons, the Kings have not been a good team. With a record of 21-31, the Kings are on pace for another dreadful season with no playoffs.
In order to attempt to turn things around, the Kings signed former Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo in 2015. While Rondo’s play has been questioned in recent years, he is averaging a solid 11.9 points per game and 11.9 assists per game throughout the first part of the 2015-2016 season. Regardless, the Kings’ roster featuring Cousins and Rondo is not leading to victories in the tough Western Conference, and the team is apparently considering offers for both players.
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
- David Lee
- Evan Turner
- Kelly Olynyk
- James Young
- Mavericks’ 2016 First Round Pick (top-7 protected and owned by Boston)
Boston Celtics Receive:
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Rajon Rondo
Sacramento Kings Receive:
- Al Horford
- Jeff Teague
- Kyle Korver
- Nets’ 2016 First Round Pick (owned by Boston)
According to the NBA trade generator at ESPN, the Celtics will win an addition three games this season if the deal is completed. The Hawks will lose an additional three games, and the Kings will lose an additional two games. It is important to note that the Hawks and Kings are not going to win anything this year. While the Hawks have a record of 30-24 and are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they have no chance to make it to the finals. As previously mentioned, the Kings are not even in a playoff slot in the tough Western Conference. The Hawks and Kings would be interested in the trade for the long-term prospects and first-round draft picks.
The C's benefited from Rajon Rondo's facilitation for years. Now, DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings are doing the same: https://t.co/W7C5jIFHyK
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 7, 2016
With a record of 31-23, the Celtics are the most interesting team out of the three. While they only have one more win than the Hawks, this trade would make them stronger for the 2016 season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are both better at the moment, but neither of these two teams should be considered unbeatable. While the Celtics would have no chance against any of the Western Conference teams if they somehow managed to make it to the NBA Finals, they could surprise everyone in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
For the Cavaliers, LeBron James is still one of the best players in the league, but he is not getting any younger. After firing David Blatt, the team is still transitioning with Tyronn Lue at the helm. Kevin Love always seems to be involved in trade rumors, despite his improved play over the past few weeks. While the Raptors are a solid team, they are not a great team. With Rondo and Cousins in the lineup, the Celtics would have a real shot at winning a possible playoff series against the Raptors and Cavaliers.
[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
