RealGM

I think this gut is going to be the best center in the NBA in the coming years. I don't want DW, we should build our own house with new stars. Its a gamble but I think Al could rub off on this guy. Lets build around:

Cousins
Horford
Teague

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/demarcus-cousins

It would cost us Horford to acquire this kid, and I don't trust his dedication. If Dwight's behavior gives u pause, this guy should definitely concern you.

I don't believe he fits into the Spurs model of player. High ego, uncoachable, unprofessional, lazy. All adjectives used to describe DeMarcus in the past.

It's worth noting the site you posted has Alex Lin and Lucas Nogueira rated just as high as Cousins.

One more thing about Cousins is I really wouldn't want to bring him back to the Deep South. He grew up in Mobile and reportedly didn't have the best support group growing up. His attitude is a problem and dropping him within a 5 hour car ride of his enablers would do nothing to help that.

Cousins + Horford = twin towers???
I believe it worths the potential risk.

If we could get him for just draft picks, I'd be all for it. But I don't see them giving him up without getting horford back, and I would never trade someone with Horford's talent and character, for someone like Cousins.

We should do it if we don't have to give up Horford. His attitude may suck but Cousins is a special talent

We have had a special talent like him (perhaps better) in josh. That has only been a roller-coaster ride at best. We don't need another potentially volatile player who will give inconsistent play and headaches to the coaches and fans. I'd rather just keep josh!

theatlfan wrote:One more thing about Cousins is I really wouldn't want to bring him back to the Deep South. He grew up in Mobile and reportedly didn't have the best support group growing up. His attitude is a problem and dropping him within a 5 hour car ride of his enablers would do nothing to help that.

You make a very good point, but I would still like for us to pursue Cousins, because his potential is so great. A short drive from his enablers or not, I still believe we need to do what we can to improve our team, and Cousins must be an option for us.

jagstang76 wrote:We have had a special talent like him (perhaps better) in josh. That has only been a roller-coaster ride at best. We don't need another potentially volatile player who will give inconsistent play and headaches to the coaches and fans. I'd rather just keep josh!

Though they have similarities personality wise, I don't think Josh and DeMarcus are similar in playing styles.

Josh's insistence on dribbling up the court, making dangerous passes and shooting long 2-pointers were too often at the detriment of the offense.

Cousins is a big load who can actually cause matchup problems in the paint and dominate smaller front courts.

I'm against acquiring Cousins, but from a basketball standpoint Demarcus and Horford would make a more dominant pairing than Smith and Horford.

Also, Josh's career is winding down. He's got another 4-5 years at a high level, max.
Cousins could potentially be a cornerstone for the next decade.

You always take the top rated Center over the moderately rated, undersized, slightly older PF/SF.

HMFFL wrote:

theatlfan wrote:One more thing about Cousins is I really wouldn't want to bring him back to the Deep South. He grew up in Mobile and reportedly didn't have the best support group growing up. His attitude is a problem and dropping him within a 5 hour car ride of his enablers would do nothing to help that.

You make a very good point, but I would still like for us to pursue Cousins, because his potential is so great. A short drive from his enablers or not, I still believe we need to do what we can to improve our team, and Cousins must be an option for us.

Don't disagree here - all I was really trying to say is that we need to understand that we have some additional risk that others don't and we would need to consider that if the situation gets to the point where a deal would be on the table. With any transaction, I think you always have to weigh the risk vs reward. With Cousins specifically, there's already a lot of risk before we discuss what we'd lose in terms of talent to acquire him. On top of the well-publicized attitude issues, now we have the fact that he's completely overvaluing his worth and being pouty about it. Can't say it's surprising, but I wouldn't call it a step in the right direction either.

Still, if we can acquire Cousins on the cheap (say straight up for a Stephenson in a SNT), then I'd think everyone here would have to agree that it'd be a no brainer because we give up nothing to take the risk/reward of Cousins. Even in the WCS, he'll be p!ssy for a year and we just go to RFA with him. OTOH, if the cost is Horford then I think most would prefer to pass (even the ones who like the idea are envisioning putting him next to Horford). Where's the breaking point here? I have no idea. SAC has a new owner so I really don't even know what they'd value, so I can't even think of a feasible deal that I could compare to.

^So...Josh Smith, Mike Scott, both 1st round draft picks and Louis Williams for DeMarcus Cousins and a 2nd rounder?

That seems...fair?

Fill out the rest of the roster with mid level free agents. (Make sure we surround this kid with level headed vets to mentor him.)

Demarcus
Horford
Korver
Tony Allen
Devin Harris

I actually would be very okay with a lineup like this.

Does not compute.

To coin the baseball phrase, Cousins is a million-dollar talent, nickel brain. Some players never get it: they SAY wins matter but they prioritize money and ego ahead of anything else. Why would we want a player who only wants to get his?

And if his (useless) personality doesn't turn you off, what about his 43% shooting percentage from the floor (44.8% for his career? What about his 0.7 blocks/game (career 0.9)? What about his lackadaisical defense?

The Good Lord gave him the body to be a 7-foot Paul Silas but that's all he has going for him.

Cousins needs the right coach in place to get his attention.

For all the knuckleheads before him, once they got a coach of substance, that player turned out pretty good.

See Rodman and Artest. Bynum is still a work in progress as well.

What if Cousins moved to the East? I think he's the starting C at the ASG. Put him in DF's hands and lets see what we can get out of him. I'm more than eager to take that chance.

What would it take to acquire him? Probably something seriously substantial like 4 assets, 2 draft picks and 2 players. Pick your 2 players to go with this year's draft.

Seriously though, nothing happening until we determine the fate of the Top 2 FAs. DF has to make a splash this summer after gutting the roster.

I'm thinking maybe a 3 team deal! Maybe D howard stays in LA and a S&T with Paul to Sac, Josh to LA and Cousins
to the ATL. Just one example.