DeMarcus Cousins
Nov 27, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center center DeMarcus Cousins (15) dribbles the ball as Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) defends during the first half at Barclays Center. USA TODAY Sports / Andy Marlin

The Sacramento Kings have resisted trading DeMarcus Cousins despite mounting pressure on the franchise to move the All-Star centre to a playoff-bound team ahead of February's trade deadline.

For nearly two seasons, the DeMarcus Cousins trade rumours have become a staple for NBA scribes and grew louder this past month after the big man's alleged profanity-laced tirade directed at a Sacramento Bee columnist. The latest episode once again raised eyebrows about Cousins' attitude, which has been under the scanner since his entry to the league in 2010.

The star centre has received more disciplinary-related suspensions and fines than any other player in the league over the last three seasons. Also, the Kings have won 30+ games only once in the Boogie Era and are most likely to miss the postseason for an eleventh consecutive season.

According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Kings front office have received plenty of offers for a DeMarcus Cousins trade over the last few seasons but none of them caught their attention. "The Kings have listened over the last year to what has come in regarding offers and ideas, and while there are a few teams that would unload a lot to get Cousins for the next year and six months (until his contract expires), none of it is equal value for what Cousins is to the Kings right now," Kyler wrote in a recent report.

DeMarcus Cousins Trade: Not happening anytime soon

The report added that the Kings weren't willing to settle for just young players and draft picks since Cousins is arguably the best centre in the game. It's important to note that since Cousins is a free agent in the summer of 2018, the big man's trade value would depreciate the longer the Kings wait to pull the trigger.

"There is little doubt that the Kings could move Cousins tomorrow if they wanted to. They could get some young guys, some expiring contracts and draft picks, but frankly and honestly, the Kings know that won’t help them in the short-term – not nearly as much as having an All-Star centre to build around for another year and seeing where things land."

Per the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was agreed upon last week, Cousins is eligible to receive a six-year contract in excess of US$230 million (AU$317 million) next summer. Therefore, the Kings could fancy their chances of re-signing Cousins instead of losing him in the summer of 2018. However, the team that possibly trades for him would acquire his Bird Rights and stand eligible to offer a six-year deal.

DeMarcus Cousins is averaging a career-high tally of 28.3 points and 10.7 rebounds this season.

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