[kngojcParticipant]

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Hours before Sacramento Kings coach Paul Westphal ordered DeMarcus Cousinsto stay away from Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Hornets, the temperamental center had yet another shouting match with Westphal in the coach’s office, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Westphal and Cousins’ agent John Grieg are at odds over whether Cousins issued a actual trade demand – the coach said yes, the agent no – but a Kings player said he heard the center yelling that he wanted out of Sacramento, sources said.

“Trade me now,” Cousins was heard to yell after Saturday’s loss to the New York Knicks, a source told Y! Sports.

Before the Kings’ 96-80 victory over the Hornets Sunday, Westphal told reporters that Cousins requested trades on Dec. 24 and again after Saturday night’s loss to the Knicks. In a statement released by the Kings earlier Sunday, Westphal said he ordered Cousins to stay away from that evening’s game because Cousins “continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team.”

Kings co-owner Joe Maloof and general manager Geoff Petrie said they will not trade Cousins, regardless of his wishes. Cousins, 21, is in the second year of a rookie contract paying him $3.6 million this season, and it would be tough for the Kings to get equal value for a talented player who already has a long history of throwing temper tantrums.

“We’re happy that he’s a King,” Maloof told Y! Sports. “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. It’s just one of those things that happens.

“Sooner or later he’ll understand what the NBA is about. Just get along with people. That’s all.”

Teams interested in Cousins have called the Kings, but none believes the team will seriously consider trading him so early in his career. Several rival executives expect the Kings will eventually make a coaching change and try a tougher style with Cousins.

“Once you saw that release only came from Westphal, that was a telltale sign that this was a coach venting and not a call to the league by management and ownership that they were trading Cousins,” one Eastern Conference executive told Y! Sports.

Cousins had nine points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks and asked Westphal afterward if he could meet with him. The two met in the coach’s office, a source said. Cousins had told reporters he wasn’t happy with the team’s offense. Westphal told Cousins in a private meeting Sunday morning that he wouldn’t be playing in the Hornets game, a source said.

Just last week, Cousins had another verbal altercation with Westphal after Westphal called him for a technical in practice, several sources said.

Cousins is an immensely talented young player, which is why the University of Kentucky and the Kings have tolerated his behavior over the past two seasons. The fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft pushed through a rookie season full of spectacular promise on the floor tempered with volatile, immature behavior on and off the court. The Kings disciplined Cousins several times for behavioral issues, and Cousins had run-ins with Sacramento coaches, including Westphal, former assistants Truck Robinson and Mario Elie, and strength-and-conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro. Cousins was also was suspended after a locker-room altercation with teammate Donte Greene last season after Greene didn’t pass him the ball for a potential game-winning shot in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the time, Greene called Cousins “spoiled,” one source said, a reference to the franchise’s coddling of its young center.

“He’s selfish,” one source close to the team said of Cousins. “He’s always angry or clowning. He needs to change. The Kings have been great about covering things up for him, and his agent has been protecting him.

“He’s always miserable. He acts like he’s entitled.”

Some players are disillusioned with the constant drain of Cousins’ tantrums, sulking and absence of professionalism. “He’s a bully, and they let him get away with it,” one source said. “No one wants to deal with the guy.”

Cousins is averaging 13 points and 11.2 rebounds in four games. The Kings don’t doubt Cousins’ talent, but they want to see him become more professional.

“He’s passionate and he wants to win, but he just needs to learn how to control his actions,” Kings centerChuck Hayes said. “Some things are better left unsaid. And if you’re not feeling the system, the team, the players, don’t let your body language say it.”

Said Kings guard Tyreke Evans: “I’ve known DeMarcus for a long time and I want nothing but the best for him, but hopefully he can keep his head on straight and be a part of this team because we need him.”

The Kings next play Tuesday in Memphis. When asked if Cousins will play, Petrie said he will meet with him prior to the Kings’ flight on Monday and “go forward from there.”

“He just has to put away the childish things and start to grow up,” Petrie said. “Learn to be more professional. Learn to put in effort and time and grow as a player. We want to help him help himself and the team.”

The Kings are 2-3 this season. Prior to Sunday’s victory, Petrie was asked about Westphal’s performance as coach.

“I don’t think anyone is happy with the way we are playing,” Petrie said. “We have to play better. That’s what we are all working on.”

 

 

[WizardofOzParticipant]

Just want to mention that Sacto has removed Cousins from all of their promotional material on their website and replaced his picture with Jimmer.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

Cousins will be an interesting player in several years when (if…?) he will have matured. Right now he’s a headcase in a young roster, giving such a bad example of (lack of) professionalism. The kings should trade him till he has some value. But against something real  (not an overpaid dalembert) in return.

Just to notice that spencer hawes, a sacramento choice in 2007 (10th) is now averaging 12 pts (67%) 12.5 reb 4 ass 1.2 st 1.8 bs in 33 min (over 4 games only and in a contract year). Sacramento choose to trade him whereas he was still young and was averaging more than 10 pts and 7 reb a game and progressing. But his toughness was questioned by the Kings and he fell out of favor with Kings coach Paul Westphal at times.

Cousins was selected 2 spots before greg monroe…. what a waste…

[KayjayParticipant]

I noticed that, kind of insulting even though its the right move. He’s still part of the team, they drafted them, so they should take responsibility. 

[kngojcParticipant]

 It’s a shame that a talent like him is being wasted just because he can’t GROW THE F UP. If he does get traded, he needs to go to a coach that would put him in his place. Is Phil Jackson available for private coaching??? lol

[lalailaParticipant]

How about San Antonio..?

 

there is about the time they should start to think about rebuilding, DMC would be quiet under Pop and Timmy, and Blair is his good friend..

Cousins for Parker or something 

[surveParticipant]

good catch…

this guy has been a problem…he "cantgetright".  he is so uncontrollable that the Kings hired his HS coach to babysit this fool. 

[FLYNTFLOSSYBABY]

 what a baby. more mins for donte greene

[F_DA_POParticipant]

San Antonio seems to build their roster around class act guys. I definitely don’t see them wanting Cousins, or Tim Duncan ever tolerating his cry babying.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 what about the Wizards???

Im sure he would be happy playing with John Wall

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

OHHHH GOD….. a wizzards frontcourt with cousins and blatche….

flip saunders would quickly be under antidepressant medication.

[Johnny Chill]

What a douchebag! With that additude, lets see fans, players, and coaches give him votes for the all star game.

[Scottoant93Participant]

 ^^^^im sure he has already reached the point with Blatche and McGee 

[JoeWolf1]

WTF? The Kings are an improving team.  They may not be making the playoffs anytime soon, but they are going to get better this season and Cousins is a part of that plan.  If he’s ready to bail after a 2-3 start because he "wants to win" but in reality it’s because he doesn’t get the ball enough.  His list of suitors who are currently winning teams is gonna be pretty short, this is why he went #5 instead of #2 when he got drafted.  Keep this up and despite his talent, his trade value is going to plummit.

 

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

 Random Kings stat..

Jimmer has sent the Kings single game, season high in assist with 5…

Nobody has had more than 5 assist in a game all year long……..

[Jlv2011]

Kings aren’t trading Cousins.  He is flying with the Kings to Memphis today.  Good day people.

[surveParticipant]

 I know I have been hard on DMC.  Reke and Thornton have not been looking to pass much this year and Jimmer and Isaiah are not much better.  I can understand his frustrations.  Westphal’s system…if you can call it that is geared around scoring guards.  It doesnt look as if he even wants his bigs to score…especially after reducing the role of Jason Thompson and adding a 6’6" center who is only an impact on defense.

Its the way he is handling it that will only further damage his already volatile perception to other teams throughout the league.  Do this stuff behind the scenes.  Or….play your azz off and at the end of the season or if you can wait til your rookie contract is up…..dont re-sign.  He is only distancing himself from other GM’s and owners who just came off draining negotiations to end a lockout.  Certainly no one wants to set their organization back another 2 or 3 years dealing with a potential powderkeg….who right now looks like he is a safe bet to detonate at any given moment, whether with the Kings or elsewhere.

[jmarg25Participant]

I dont think any teams around the league will have any respect for Cousins, and players wont be excited to find out he has been traded to their team. I find it hard to see him getting traded and immediately playing a big role on a new team.

[surveParticipant]

Lemme tell you guys why Westphal gets somewhat of a "pass".  If this were John Wall or Blake Griffin, he wouldve been fired or asked to resign.  The fact that its Cousins changes the dynamic drastically.  The organization KNEW they had a challenge on their hands keeping this guy straight…thats why they hired his old HS coach.  

They were just hoping for the best….but as others have stated….pick Monroe or Udoh and save yourself some headache.  Remember how there was such a debate as to why Favors went ahead of DMC?  Remember all the posts about who would you rather have?  I ask that question now, how many of you would rather have DMC over Favors right now? 

The fact is, DMC hurt his draft stock and now he is hurting his reputation throughout the league.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

of course if cousins were shaq they were treating him another way…. that’s the issue with cousins : HE’S NOBODY IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW. 

You can’t complain always from everything and ask for a trade whereas you’re just on your second season and didn’t prove anything. I think the kings surely overprotected him and should have been more sever with him from the beginning. He’s a professionnal paid by his employer who is only asking him to behave as a professionnal.

I’m agree with the second part of your post about avoiding the head case at the draft and picking monroe : I was crying during the draft night when I heard their choice. And (as a lot of people I think) I was already anticipating that kind of issue whereas I’m not a clairvoyant.

[natedogggParticipant]

as much of a headcase he is the kings really need a new coach. someone who can harness the talent on the roster and actually be respected by his players.

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