After a bad start this season, Sacramento Kings may trade either DeMarcus Cousins or Omri Casspi. However, there is still no official statement from the Kings management regarding the issue.
Casspi rejected the rumor that he requested to be traded as reported by CSN Bay Area. He responded to the inquiry via text message saying there is no truth in his trading rumor.
The 28-year old forward Casspi averaged 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. He also booked a good 3-pointer with 40.9 percent in 27.2 minutes per game last season. However, a hip injury and recovery has made him to be sidelined in the front court for Matt Barnes, Anthony Tolliver and Garrett Temple.
Casspi has been back to Sacramento since 2014. He was drafted by Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA draft as the 23rd pick. After two seasons in the Bay Area, he was traded to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. The Kings signed him in 2014 after New Orleans Pelicans waived him following a trade between the Pelicans and Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile rumor about Cousins trade was also confirmed by the minority owner of the Kings, Shaquille O’Neal as reported by NESN. O’Neal said that Cousins has been troublesome for the Kings and doesn’t show his capacity to lead the team in an interview with ‘Inside NBA’ on TNT. He also hinted that Sacramento Kings management may look forward to trade him.
“In the previous years, he’s been hot-headed, he hasn’t shown great leadership qualities,” O’Neal said. I’m hearing talk that if things don’t start to become correct, then they may be looking in another direction.”
Watch the interview with O’Neal below:
Cousins is a temperamental player and he had been in many trouble with his temper. The recent incident was his fighting with Julius Randle during the game against Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday Nov.10. Watch the interview with Cousins after his fighting with Randle below: