Rival exec: Kings have '3 months, tops' to trade Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins' days in Sacramento could be numbered.

With the talented big man set to become a free agent at the end of next season, one rival executive believes the 26-year-old could be traded in the coming months.

"I’d say they have three months, tops," a Western Conference general manager told the Sporting News' Sean Deveney. "Probably more like a month, or month-and-a-half, because the closer they get to the (February trade) deadline, the less they’re going to get back. If you’re trying to trade him the week of the deadline, it’s going to be tougher."

Cousins' availability has been a hot topic of late, as minority owner Shaquille O'Neal said last week that the Kings "may be looking to go in a different direction."

Sacramento has struggled to surround their franchise center with talent since drafting him with the fifth overall pick more than seven years ago. Not only have the Kings never made the playoffs with Cousins, they've never won more than 33 games in a single season.

The Kentucky product has put up monster numbers in 11 games this season, averaging 26.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals on 48 percent shooting.

Despite Cousins' immense talent, there are still executives across the league that are refusing to give up too much for a player they believe could negatively affect their locker room.

"It is not going to happen unless the Kings cave a little," the West GM said. "No one is going to give up too much for someone who might ruin your team’s chemistry this year, then ruin it next year when he is playing for free-agent money. If they don’t see that, then I don’t think it changes and I don’t think he goes anywhere. I don’t know that is good for them or for him, either. But that’s the reality."