Before All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins was unexpectedly traded to the New Orleans Pelicans last month, there was speculation as to whether he would stay long-term with the Sacramento Kings or bolt this summer in free agency.
One potential destination was thought to be the surging Washington Wizards, where Cousins’ college teammate John Wall plays. Wall and Cousins have maintained a close relationship since entering the league, and are known to be good friends. Perhaps Wall could persuade Cousins to leave the Kings in July and join Washington, a team in need of frontcourt star power.
According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, that’s just what Wall has been trying to do:
“(DeMarcus Cousins) said he would come to D.C., but he didn’t know what was going to happen,” Wizards guard John Wall told The Undefeated. “I didn’t know he was going to be traded like that. We thought it was going to be later on or he was just going to stay [in Sacramento]. It shocked me just like it shocked him.”
This would mark the second time Wall has publicly admitted that he and Cousins have discussed teaming up in the future.
As Wall said, those dreams hit a sudden bump when the Kings dealt Cousins to New Orleans, where his buddy Anthony Davis plays. Now in a much better situation, the chances of Cousins leaving have significantly decreased.
Still, the Wizards have had their best season in recent memory behind their star backcourt and Coach of the Year candidate, and remain an intriguing destination for Cousins down the road. After all, the Pelicans are no lock to re-sign him in July.
For now, Cousins seems happy playing in New Orleans, a team that will aggressively look to re-sign him early on in free agency.
