DeMarcus Cousins's Kings Tenure Ends In Unnecessary Chaos

After seven years of inexplicable and patently unprofessional treatment, the Kings put DeMarcus Cousins through the ringer one last time with Sunday's trade.

NEW ORLEANS — DeMarcus Cousins’s seven-year tenure with the Kings ended in the only fitting manner: utter disarray. 

Shortly after another dull All-Star Game played out in front of a sleepy crowd, the Smoothie King Center’s media work area jolted awake with word that Cousins, who had suspiciously logged just two minutes, might be traded to the Pelicans.

While LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and other All-Stars fielded standard-issue post-game questions in a converted courtside VIP lounge, Cousins moved to the rear of the interview room with dozens of reporters in hot pursuit. Pressed to the back wall, the three-time All-Star gave no clear reason for his limited playing time and sounded irked by the trade talk, rolling his eyes and throwing back his head when pressed about the rumors. “Man, give me a break,” he said. “I just need one All-Star where it’s just All-Star questions. This is my third one and it’s always something. … Whatever happens, happens. I haven’t heard from [Kings management].”

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Good news, DeMarcus. An uncertain future with the Pelicans awaits, but Sunday was the last time you’ll need to worry about the Kings stopping your shine.