DeMarcus Cousins Reportedly Seeking a Trade, Wants Out of Sacramento

The Sacramento Kings released a statement from coach Paul Westphal this week saying that second-year NBA center DeMarcus Cousins had requested a trade and was told not to show up for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Hornets.

“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,” Westphal said in the statement, as reported by USA Today. “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.”

Cousins’ agent, John Greig, told SI.com’s Sam Amick, however, that it was the first he’d heard of it.

“DeMarcus never demanded a trade,” Greig said of the 21-year-old. “I’m surprised the Kings, if they believe the player wanted a trade, wouldn’t have made a phone call to his representative. Maybe Westphal is just feeling the Heat early this season.”

Wherever the truth lies, Kings co-owner Joe Maloof and general manager Geoff Petrie have already went on record saying they will not trade Cousins, meaning this latest episode will likely only speed up what looks like an inevitable conclusion — Westphal’s departure.

“We’re happy that he’s a King,” Maloof said of Cousins in a Yahoo interview. “But when a coach asks you to do something, you got to do it. We’re not trading him. We have great expectations for him. Sooner or later he’ll understand what the NBA is about. Just get along with people. That’s all.”

The 6-11 Cousins, Sacramento’s first-round draft pick in 2010, did not play in the Kings’ 96-80 win over the Hornets. In four games with Cousins, the Kings were 1-3. Cousins averaged 13 points and 11.3 rebounds but is shooting just 32.1% from the field (13-for-44).

DeMarcus Cousins averaged 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds during his rookie season which included a suspension for starting a fight on an airplane with a teammate and a fine for a dispute with the team’s conditioning coach.

via USA Today
Image: ESPN