Recent NBA Trade Rumors are gaining steam that the Chicago Bulls are targeting Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins via a trade in hopes of reuniting him with former teammate and fellow Kentucky alumnus Rajon Rondo.
Chat Sports reported that the Kings have recently "renewed interest in listening to trade offers" for their franchise player Cousins and have also "raised the feeling that the All-Star big man may be traded sooner rather than later".
The 26-year-old two-time NBA All-Star and former Kentucky standout had been in Sacramento for his entire six-year professional career so far but has never appeared in the playoffs. He is considered by many as one of the most underachieving stars in the league right now and a change of environment could be something good for both the club and the player.
Rumors of Cousins being on the trading block had been emerging in the past several offseasons, but nothing has really come to fruition.
Last season, Cousins was joined by fellow Kentucky Wildcat and one-time NBA champion Rondo via free-agency and their partnership were good as the two said to have become best friends off the court.
However, it was a different story on the court as the Kings still could not qualify for the postseason. With the two bosom buddies as the team's leading men, Sacramento could only finish 10th in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record.
Alas, Rondo left the squad this summer after just one season and joined the Bulls in free-agency as a potential replacement for superstar Derrick Rose, who moved to the New York Knicks in a blockbuster trade deal last June.
Fansided indicated that "the rumor mill has been swirling with the idea of Cousins joining former teammate and best friend Rondo, on the Bulls" and that while the idea is considered a "stretch", it is not really impossible to happen.
The report noted Cousins' speculated "unhappiness" in the Kings organization and how the club had failed to surround him with pieces that will get them to compete in the playoffs.
His "bad boy" reputation on and off the court is also said to be not helping his case to become the alpha male of a team, although "his talent has unfortunately been overlooked by his behavior".
It remains to be seen whether the Bulls are actually submitting an offer to the Kings for Cousins, but at this point, Chicago is lacking pieces to swap for the mercurial young center.