Valley of the Suns’ Thoughts on the Suns Missing out on Cousins

Last night, literally during the post All-Star Game interviews, DeMarcus Cousins was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Some Phoenix Suns fans rejoiced that the franchise didn’t take on the generational talent – err, headache. Although many of us are now sulking at the growing odds that Phoenix will not trade for a superstar this year, and that our hope for long-term success will continue to rest on the shoulders of the NBA Draft Lottery Gods, as well as the further development of the young talent already on the roster.

Opinions on the realization that DeMarcus Cousins will not wear Phoenix purple and orange in the future are basically two-sided – upset and elated. We here at the Valley of the Suns are not without our own thoughts on the matter and wanted to share with you our opinions on the Phoenix Suns not acquiring DeMarcus Cousins.

Adam Maynes – Site Editor

We do not yet know the full extent of Phoenix’s push for Cousins over the last 48 hours, nor what exactly a proposed package may have looked like from Phoenix’s end, and what the Sacramento Kings were demanding. It certainly does seem plausible though that the Kings are so incredibly inept that they accepted a lesser offer from New Orleans by placing some sort of an inter-division trade tax on Phoenix, hiking up the asking price to guarantee that Cousins would not haunt them four games every season for the next several years. If this was the case, then the Kings left McDonough no choice but to refuse to consummate the trade, and allow a superstar to pass right over the Valley of the Suns on his way to the Big Easy.

I am not going to lie: I am sorely disappointed that

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the Suns could not put together a package worth obtaining Boogie. He is a generational talent as well as a generational pain in the butt, but that kind of talent made the attitude risk something as a fan I was hoping the Suns would be willing to take accept. Putting him alongside Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker for the foreseeable future seemed like a sure-fire playoff recipe, something I have long dreamt of. Yet now, unless Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough pulls a superstar out of a hat (which I for one will never put past him) we will have to continue to hope for the losses to keep piling up, and that all of this season’s losing is not in vein as the Suns end up with a top-3 selection in this summer’s lottery.

Kory Miller – Contributor

Obviously, it’s disappointing that Cousins was moved to the Pelicans for so little. The reported offer of Len, Warren and the 2017 1st round pick was definitely better than what the Kings got from New Orleans. However, I believe that the Suns refused to part with the pick and that’s what doomed them. I can’t say that I blame them. The pick should be Top-3 and may be #1. That’s hard to part with, especially given that Cousins is no lock to re-sign. If nothing else, the Suns are no longer the worst team in the Pacific Division and won’t be for a long time. That title will live with the Kings for the foreseeable future.

Lucas McLean – Contributor

The Kings have finally achieved the elusive “Worst Run Organization Award.” It was hard to achieve, I’ll give them that. The Nets and Magic were up there but Vlade Divac wasn’t going to come in third.

I just don’t understand what life is anymore. How could the Thunder get more for a rental of Serge Ibaka than the Kings received for DeMarcus Cousins? Their new starting 5 is Collison, Hield, McLemore, Tolliver, and Koufos. If that doesn’t make you cringe I don’t know what else will. Oh, and Sacramento can’t even tank because if they fall too far Philly can swap picks with them.

On this day I am happy I am a Suns fan.

Next: Top-10 Trades in Phoenix Suns History

Robert Neal – Contributor

Another trading deadline and another lost opportunity. How many times the last few years have we gone through this? Now it is the best center in the NBA, DeMarcus Cousins, who escapes a future with the Suns.

We don’t know all the details, but I can guess. It seems no one wants anything to do with Phoenix these days. Phoenix is a black hole where the Sun never rises. No one wants to play for Suns owner Robert Sarver, or even be associated with him. While the Suns remain stuck with current management, we can go on dreaming all we want, but the “deal” we’ve been waiting for to return Phoenix to relevance may never happen. I hope it does, but I’m done holding my breath.

The Suns are like a dog chasing a car. They’ll never catch it. And if they do, they wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway.

However, this time it wasn’t a “free agent” offer, it was a trade. And I just can’t believe the Suns couldn’t offer something better than the junk deal Sacramento took from the Pelicans. Did Suns GM Ryan McDonough even try? Where is the aggressiveness McDonough promised when he signed on as the Suns GM? Or is Sarver calling the shots, preventing McDonough from making a better offer? We may never know. Maybe it’s better if we don’t.

I do know the Suns will remain irrelevant for the time being – maybe for even longer. It’s not a pleasant thought. But it’s also not surprising.

Brooks Ohman – Contributor

My biggest takeaway from the Cousins deal is the weakness of the final offer. That offer was driven by Buddy Hield and how much the Kings’ owner was enthralled by him, but it would have been easy for the Suns to match or better the offer. The Suns could have offered one of the Miami picks and then 2 of the 3 Knight, Len, and Tucker, plus Chriss or Bender, whichever the Suns management is less high on. Given Cousins’ status as a franchise center, as well as his positive history with Bledsoe, that would have been a steal for the Suns, even when you account for Cousins’ attitude worries.

Christian Sihombing – Contributor

DeMarcus Cousins is probably the most versatile big men in the NBA today because of his ability to create for his teammates, post-up, hit the outside jumper, and play defense well. Cousins is averaging career-highs in points per game (27.8), assists per game (4.8), player efficiency rating (28.8), and three-point percentage (35.6). There was speculation that the Phoenix Suns would be able to receive him via trade before this year’s trade deadline, but the New Orleans Pelicans were able to pick him up first. Many would see this as a loss for the Phoenix Suns, but I believe that the Suns have dodged a bullet with this trade.

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Though Boogie may be one of the top centers in the NBA, his attitude on/off the court make him a problem to deal with. During his time with Sacramento, Cousins has gone through a bevy of coaches that could not handle his temper and it was at the heart of the franchises struggles. The Kings have only had one season where they won 40% of their games since drafting DeMarcus, and although during that same timespan the Suns have done it four times, they too have yet to reach the playoffs.

Cousins has been a great player for Sacramento, but Phoenix needs a player who will be able to set an example for his teammates. With all the young talent the Suns have, the team currently needs a star who can set a standard through his play and through his attitude.

DeMarcus is not that player for the Suns, and Phoenix should be thankful that they dodged that bullet.