Report: Kings might test market for Cousins

It's come full circle for the Sacramento Kings.

After suffering through yet another miserable season, the Kings might be willing to put forth the nuclear option of dealing their mercurial franchise player DeMarcus Cousins.

As Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee writes:

A year ago, Cousins was untouchable. A year later, the sense within the organization is Divac is tempted by the prospect of pairing his center with his personally selected coach but that he has become increasingly frustrated by his center’s ongoing issues and, for the first time, is willing to test the market for the two-time All-Star.

Among those issues were a number of players calling private meetings with management to submit complaints about Cousins' mood swings and disrespect for those around him.

Voisin adds that Kings general manager Vlade Divac was evasive when asked weeks ago if the firing of former head coach George Karl meant that the team would retain Cousins.

"Anything about the players and how we are going to do in the summer," Divac said. "I don’t want to talk about right now because our focus is to find a new coach."

The Kings have tried in vain to build around Cousins but they have yet to find a combination to snap their playoff drought. Last summer, Divac assembled a new cast around Cousins but the season still went south despite the upgrades.

Playing into the dysfunction was the drama that hovered over the team like a black cloud. Cousins clashed with Karl, letting loose a tirade on at least two separate occasions that was met with a suspension. Karl has since been let go, and the search is on for their 10th coach in 11 seasons.

Despite all the moodiness that Cousins carries, it's still hard to let go of an elite talent. Cousins averaged 26.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists last season, he's still just 25, and is signed for two more seasons for $32 million.