DeMarcus Cousins, Danilo Gallinari, and Willie Cauley-Stein are already rumored to be on the trading block barely a month into the 2016-2017 season. Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein, and Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets are routinely involved in NBA trade talks, but for a variety of reasons.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, league sources are in consensus that it would be logical for the Sacramento Kings to trade DeMarcus Cousins before the trade deadline. With Cousins having another full season remaining on his contract, and with his trade value still high considering his on-court and off-court behavior, league sources are of the opinion that moving the big man before the February deadline is the way to go.
In a report from CBS Sports, Sacramento Kings minority owner Shaquille O'Neal described the two-time all-star DeMarcus Cousins as a "hot head" and "lacking leadership." The Hall of Famer added, "I'm hearing talk that if things don't start to become correct, then they (King's management) may be looking in another direction."
Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets remains an intriguing prospect for the rest of the NBA. At 6'10", the veteran small forward has always been a threat from the outside. In recent years, Gallinari has developed a dependable inside game that made him much harder to guard.
The Italian Danilo Gallinari provides leadership to the Denver Nuggets' young talents including Emmanuel Mudiay, Will Barton, Jamal Murray, Jusuf Nurkic, and Nikola Jokic. According to a report from The Ringer, numerous overtures for Gallinari's services have been turned down by the Nuggets over the past two years. However, looking at the Nuggets' perspective, it makes no sense in letting Gallinari go if the Nuggets can't acquire an all-star level veteran to fill Gallinari's spot and take on the leadership cudgels.
Sacramento King's big man Willie Cauley-Stein is reportedly unhappy with his role under head coach Dave Joerger. The former number 6 overall pick in 2015 has seen his minutes and production go down this season. ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Kings is open to trading Cauley-Stein. However, another report from CSN California states that the Kings will likely keep Willie Cauley-Stein.
With the February trade deadline still a couple of months away, rumors about player movement involving DeMarcus Cousins, Danilo Gallinari, and Willie Cauley-Stein will continue to persist. That being said, unless something so irresistible presents itself to the teams involved, these rumors will likely stay as rumors with the teams involved refraining from pulling the trigger.
