The Sacramento Kings have sent All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans.
In return, the Kings will receive Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a 2017 first-round pick and a 2017 second-round pick. In addition, the Pelicans will receive Omri Casspi.
It is a modest return for the Kings. While Hield was a highly regarded prospect in the 2016 draft, he’s averaging just 8.3 points per game and doesn’t appear to be on track to become a superstar, at least not in the same sense as Cousins. Evans and Galloway are essentially NHL swingmen. Hield is also already 23. Cousins is 26.
With the Kings, Cousins, who is signed through 2018, was eligible for a five-year, $206 million contract extension.
The Pelicans now possess one of the league’s strongest frontcourts in Cousins, who is averaging a career-high 27.8 points per game, and fellow All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who averages 27.7 points per game.
Cousins is a bit of a hothead — he already has 17 technical fouls this season — but a change of scenery may be exactly what “Boogie” needs.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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