OT: Kings Hire Cousins' HS Coach As Assistant

Kurosawa · Post #1 » by **Kurosawa** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:15 am

Maybe it's just the DeMarcus-Cousins-Is-a-Train Wreck-Waiting-to-Happen glasses I wear, but the flag that pops up when an NBA team hires as an assistant the high school coach of one of its players sure looks red to me. It's no secret that DMC has emotional control and maturity issues, and those on the board who think we (and Philadelphia and New Jersey) blew it by not picking him like to think the kid will grow out of them and go on to be a force of nature in the post for 15 years. Maybe, the thinking might go, this hire will help him settle down and grow up.

Two thoughts on that point of view: (1) The very fact that Sacramento has taken the rather drastic step of spending one of its assistant coaching slots on the high school coach of one of its players (one who has an otherwise lackluster coaching career, at that) suggests to me that the challenge of raising DMC is more difficult than originally anticipated and that the club thinks its internal resources aren't up to the task. (2) Character comes from within; not from without. With DMC, it's not all about maturity. Whatever he's lacking, can a former coach provide? I doubt it.

shangrila · Post #2 » by **shangrila** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:40 am

During pre-draft I thought Cousins was exactly what they said he was, all misunderstood and such, but the more I see the more it seems like he's just one of those people that thinks he's better then others. Especially when he's talking ish to D League talent at summer league, when he's not even having a good game...eh, I'm with you. If he ever puts it together he'll be nice but I doubt he does it in Sacramento and I think he'll end up having a Rasheed-esque career.

mnWI · Post #3 » by **mnWI** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:51 am

The Thunder hired Kevin Durant's AAU coach.

Hughly has experience as a college coach as well as working with NBA big men in the past. Also has been involved with NBA China. Not like they are hiring a street agent or anything here.

funkatron101 · Post #4 » by **funkatron101** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:15 pm

I think too many assumptions are going on here.

I wasn't a fan of us picking Cousins (to keep), but the guy is likely going to thrive in Sacramento.

prefuse73 · Post #5 » by **prefuse73** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:58 pm

I am fine with us picking Wes for many reasons, but I will say that Sacramento has two very strong building blocks (despite how risky it is) in Evans and Cousins. I consider them ahead of us in the rebuilding process as such unless a couple guys (namely Beasley, Love, Webster or Johnson) breakout.

eyeteeth · Post #6 » by **eyeteeth** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:39 pm

I like this just because I'm a fan of things that can't be immediately evaluated. If it succeeds, then it was perceptive and a smart, bold move. If it fails, it shows how poor a judge of the situation they were from the get-go. Outcome is everything.

Now, for my part, I think the Wolves were right to pass on DMC. I think he's a mess and he will spend a few years being great when it's not important and then blowing a fuse at the wrong time and making wins and losses about something other than basketball.