Vote: Five questions on the blockbuster DeMarcus Cousins trade

BySN Staff ESPN logo
Monday, February 20, 2017

Boogie is heading to New Orleans. Who saw this coming?

ESPN's Marc Stein is reportingthat the Sacramento Kingshave agreed to trade All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans. The potentially league-altering move comes just two weeks after Kings general manager Vlade Divac publicly stated the team would not trade Cousins.

In return for Cousins and swingman Omri Casspi, the Pelicans will send Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a 2017 first-round pick and a 2017 second-rounder to the Kings.

It's a scary thought -- Cousins, 26, paired with Pelicans superstar forward Anthony Davis. But how will it play out? Will this trade alter the balance of power in the Western Conference and the NBA?

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the biggest trade of the NBA season and its potential outcome.

Vote now:

A Cousins and Davis frontcourt could make the Pelicans' offense one of the most lethal attacks in the NBA. Cousins is posting career highs in points (27.8 per game), assists (4.9), 3-point field goal percentage (.356) and player efficiency rating (26.6).

Cousins and Davis -- who was named the MVPin Sunday's All-Star Game after scoring 52 points -- rank third and fourth, respectively, in points per game this season.

However, Cousins also brings some baggage with him to New Orleans.

Since the 2010-11 season, the three-time All-Star has racked up a league-high 105 technical fouls, including 17 this season. He has also fouled out of 46 games and has been ejected 12 times.

Cousins served a one-game suspension earlier this season after receiving his 16th technical foul, and would be suspended for another game if he picks up an 18th --and one game each for every additional two technical fouls beyond that.

While this trade may be the best long-term solution for the Kings, the thought of Cousins and Davis playing together for the Pelicans is tantalizing.

Only time will tell how this trade works out for both teams.

--Isaac Chipps