NBA Trade Update 2017: DeMarcus Cousins Traded to Pelicans; Forms Twin Towers with Anthony Davis

DeMarcus Cousins played only 2 minutes at the All-Star Game in New Orleans. Turns out Cousins will be playing in New Orleans for more than 2 minutes the rest of the 2016-2017 season with newly minted All-Star MVP Anthony Davis. Davis and Cousins will form a fearsome, legitimate twin tower.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Sacramento Kings traded prized big man DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Caspi to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for rookie Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and 2017 first and second round picks. The 2017 pick has lottery protection in the top three.

CBS Sports recently reported that DeMarcus Cousins planned to sign an extension with the Sacramento Kings, declaring that it's where he wants to be. Cousins stated that he wants his "legacy to end in Sacramento" and his "jersey to be in the rafters in Sacramento." The deal would have earned DeMarcus Cousins US$ 200 Million.

While Sacramento Kings Vlade Divac maintained that the organization would not move Cousins, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive gave the go signal to trade DeMarcus Cousins. With Cousins now teaming up with Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans can potentially cause problems to any team in the Western Conference.

The twin tower combination of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis can wreck havoc especially if they play a team having relatively weaker inside presence come playoff time. It's going to be interesting if teams like the Golden State Warriors, one of those aforementioned teams with big-men issues, would cope playing against the Pelicans.

After declaring that he wants to stay in Sacramento, a source close to DeMarcus Cousins said that the 3-time All-Star is shocked after learning about the trade. It's not surprising since Cousins and his representatives were blindsided by the Kings after assuring them the center would not be moved.

According to an executive associated with a team that inquired about Cousins and speaking on anonymity, DeMarcus Cousins is a bad investment but can be appealing if the price Sacramento is asking in exchange is minimal. "We would have taken him but only if they were basically giving him away," said the executive.

Now that the Sacramento Kings is in full re-building mode, look for the New Orleans Pelicans to climb in the standings. Making the playoffs is a modest goal and achievable.

If the Pelicans get a good match-up in the playoffs, who knows how high the twin towers of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis can take the Pelicans. For more NBA trade rumors, visit our website!