Rumor: Miami Heat a potential landing spot for DeMarcus Cousins
ESPN’s Amin Elhassan mentioned the Miami Heat among possible teams that could trade for Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have a history of–and have won championships by–trading for disgruntled super stars. The Heat, well out of playoff contention and no true super star on the roster, could be looking to make its next big swing.
The biggest and best player expected to be on the trade market is center DeMarcus Cousins, whose time with the Sacramento Kings could be coming to an end. Recently, Cousins threatened a local Sacramento newspaper reporter and was fined by the team. That, plus the rumors that have been connected to Sacramento, has led many to believe that the Kings may start shopping Cousins.
ESPN’s Amin Elhassan was asked what teams could become potential landing spots for Cousins. Among other teams, Elhassan mentioned the Heat.
“Great tradition there [in Boston], Danny Ainge is a strong leader, they’ve got some talent, they got things to give up that Sacramento may be interested in. Another destination, maybe Denver, because Mike Malone, his former coach in Sacramento, seemingly the only guy who’s gotten through to him. Well, he’s in Denver. That would be a nice landing spot there. And then you have your usual spots–Miami and San Antonio–those places that we always think of as rehabilitating guys but I don’t know if they have enough to get him.
Admittedly he throws in the Heat and Spurs at the end there without giving much of an explanation, but Elhassan is connected to NBA front offices and it’s worth mentioning that he included Miami in his list.
What would a trade look like?
Elhassan is right in saying the Heat don’t have much to give up and, even if they could put an enticing package together, other teams like the Celtics and Nuggets have better assets. But let’s just say they aren’t interested in taking on Cousins and all his baggage, and the Heat are able to make a deal. What would that deal look like?
At first glance you may think the Kings would want Hassan Whiteside in return, but not so fast. The Kings already have a glut of bigmen, and acquiring Whiteside–who is actually older than Cousins, isn’t as good, doesn’t create shots for teammates and comes with his own baggage–wouldn’t solve any problems for Sacramento.
They would more likely ask for a player like Goran Dragic in return along with young players. A deal of Dragic, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson for Cousins and combo-forward Omri Casspi (for salary-matching reasons) works financially.
The Kings–who may have the worst backcourt in the NBA–would be getting an all-star level point guard in Dragic and a young shooter in Richardson. Winslow, a former lottery pick with upside, would be Miami’s version of including a first round pick (since they currently don’t have one to trade).
The Heat, of course, would have Whiteside and Cousins on one team. That could hypothetically lead to the Heat seeking to trade Whiteside elsewhere like Portland or Denver. Or (and hear me out) Miami could play Whiteside at center and Cousins at power forward. Cousins is playing the 4 now in Sacramento and can handle and shoot well enough that it works. Think of what the Los Angeles Clippers have with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, only that Cousins is a better shooter than Griffin and this hypothetical frontcourt is a million times more combustable.
Anyway, just thought it was worth exploring.
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