NBA Trade News: Phoenix Suns want to reunite DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe

The Phoenix Suns (16-34) are trying to acquire Sacramento Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins with the intention of reuniting him with former Kentucky Wildcats teammate Eric Bledsoe, per reports. While the Kings haven't made Cousins available via trade, insiders believe the All-Star big man can be had for the right price.

With the Kings set to miss the postseason for a seventh consecutive season (eleventh overall) since drafting Cousins in 2010, there's a strong possibility that the California-based club could trade their most valuable asset ahead of next month's Feb. 23 deadline and press the reset button entering the 2017-18 season. Since Cousins will be a free agent at the end of next season, the Kings can't afford to wait too long since general managers would be reluctant to part with valuable assets for a player that could opt for free agency in the summer of 2018.

Last month, there were several reports that the Kings and Cousins could reach a contract extension this summer. However, those reports haven't gained traction with several insiders speculating that the Kings are still open to the idea of trading Cousins if a team is willing to overpay them -- with all-star calibre players and/or a chest of first round draft picks. The Phoenix Suns, destined to return to the lottery, are a team loaded with young assets and draft picks.

DeMarcus Cousins trade: Suns offering Alex Len, T.J. Warren and first-round pick

According to Arizona Sports, the Kings and Suns recently discussed a potential DeMarcus Cousins trade with the latter offering a package of centre Alex Len, forward T.J. Warren and their 2017 first-round draft pick which is projected to be a top-5 selection. The report added that the Kings are desperate for a young point guard and could fill that requirement during the 2017 NBA Draft.

"Sacramento (Kings) has the need for a lead point guard and 2017’s draft class has point guards near the top of many mock drafts, including Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball," read the report from Suns beat writer John Gambadoro, who noted that the Suns could also be willing to sweeten the pot by including two future Miami Heat first-round picks that they acquired as part of the Goran Dragic deal.

The report added that the Suns are invested in their budding backcourt duo of Bledsoe and Devin Booker, the two players that are "off-limits" when it comes to trade talks for Cousins. Last year, Cousins spoke profoundly about wanting to team up with Washington Wizards star John Wall and Bledsoe, the two guards he played with during his days in Kentucky.

“(Do we) talk about playing with one another? Is that your question? It’s come up. They’re going to all come to Sac. Come to Sac! … (John Wall) wants me (in Washington D.C.). Eric (Bledsoe) want us in Phoenix … Play with John and Eric again, you never know what will happen. It’s the NBA, so hopefully one day he’ll be in a Sacramento uniform," Cousins told The Washington Post last November when the Kings visited the Wizards.

In recent years, several superstar players have teamed up with the intention to chase championships. While Cousins, Bledsoe and Wall can't control their own destiny before hitting free agency, their agents could always conjure up plans with general managers in an attempt to form a Super Team. Cousins is averaging a career-high tally of 28.1 points and 10.6 rebounds this season. Stay tuned for the latest on the DeMarcus Cousins trade situation.