The Sacramento Kings have announced that centre DeMarcus Cousins is heading to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster NBA trade involving five players and two draft picks.
Cousins, the centrepiece of the deal, and forward Omri Casspi are heading to the Big Easy in exchange for rookie guard Buddy Hield, swingman Tyreke Evans, guard Langston Galloway, a 2017 first-round pick and a 2017 second-round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 26-year-old Cousins, who is averaging a career-best 27.8 points in his seventh season, will form a dominant frontcourt with Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who averages 27.7 points and is coming off a record 52-point performance in the All-Star Game.
"It was time for a change and I decided this was the best direction for the organisation," said Kings vice president of basketball operations and general manager Vlade Divac.
Although Cousins can be a free agent after next season and Sacramento considered signing him to a five-year contract extension worth approximately $US210 million ($NZ293 million) last month, his departure ends a tumultuous six-and-a-half seasons for the fifth overall draft pick in 2010.
Cousins, who leads the league with 17 technical fouls, clashed with coaches and the media at times but has lifted his scoring average in each of the past four seasons.
Reuters
