Knicks Trade Rumors: Players Who Are Already Available

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Take this with the thickest grain of salt that you can find. DeMarcus Cousins has been at the heart of trade rumors for the better part of his career, yet he’s played every one of his first six seasons in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings.

Despite the arrival of a proven head coach in former Memphis Grizzlies frontman Dave Joerger, Cousins could actually be on the move in 2016-17.

Cousins will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and the general consensus is that he won’t re-sign with the Kings. That gives Sacramento a limited window to either trade him or surround him with enough talent to help the organization win.

According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, a rival executive believes the Kings should trade Cousins within the next month if they’re hoping to get fair value.

"“I’d say they have three months, tops,” one Western Conference general manager told Sporting News, requesting anonymity because he is not allowed to speak about other teams’ players. “Probably more like a month, or month-and-a-half, because the closer they get to the (February trade) deadline, the less they’re going to get back. If you’re trying to trade him the week of the deadline, it’s going to be tougher.”"

The New York Knicks should be keeping a close eye on this development.

Cousins formed an unlikely bond with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That could create the foundation for Anthony to help Cousins and Kristaps Porzingis develop into the interior duo of the future.

The harsh reality that New York will likely have to face and accept: with Anthony and Porzingis off limits, Cousins is likely to be out of reach via a trade.

There’s always 2018 free agency.